Shop video shows Filipina-looking woman allegedly stealing bag of shopper

By Daisy CL Mandap

CCTV footage with the alleged thief

A Filipina domestic helper has appealed for help in locating a compatriot who was caught on CCTV while apparently taking off with her handbag from a shop in Central the other Sunday, Jun 17.

(CCTV footage here: 

https://www.facebook.com/Hotline.control/videos/pcb.1954735104551445/1954729491218673/?type=3&theater)

Milagros A. Galvan, 49, said all her important documents were in her purple-colored bag, including her passport, HK ID card and employment contract, apart from $2,000 cash, some coins, a bunch of keys, bank passbook, octopus card, and a power bank.

She said she had all her documents with her as she needed them to update her records with Metrobank.

“Hindi naman niya kailangan ang mga dokumento ko, bakit niya kinuha? Sana ibalik niya sa Philippine Consulate. Kahit kunin na niya ang pera kung kailangan niya,” Galvan said.

Galvan says she just wants her documents back

The alleged theft happened between 6:20-6:30pm on Jun 17 in a ground-floor shop in Eurotrade Centre on 21-23 Des Voeux Road Central. Galvan she momentarily placed her bag on a clothes rack so she could take out her phone and read messages on what she was supposed to buy there for her child, but found it gone the next time she looked.

“Ang bilis,” she said in a message.

Galvan said that the shopkeeper helped her look for her bag, but when they couldn’t find it, checked the store’s CCTV camera. There they saw another Filipina-looking woman in a blue shirt discreetly putting Galvan’s bag strap around her wrist, before quickly moving away.

Galvan immediately reported the theft to the Central Police station, and showed them the footage from the shop’s CCTV. The police reportedly told her to wait a week for an update but she had yet to receive a call from them.

Galvan, who lives in Yuen Long and has been working in Hong Kong for 24 years, said she just wants her documents back as it will take time to replace them all, and she has difficulty moving around without them.

Cebu's disabled paddlers win anew in HK Dragonboat race

PADS is no 1 for the second consecutive year

By Vir B. Lumicao

 Consul Saret with PADS Team Capt Arnold Balais

Paddlers of Cebu-based PADS Adaptive  Dragonboat Racing Team retained their crown in the paradragon event of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival on Jun 24 by handily defeating the competition in the 400-meter championship race.

Another team of Filipino men and women, Triton, won a gold trophy by ruling the women’s 400-meter race on Jun 22, then snared a silver trophy in the 200-meter women’s event of the three-day festival on Victoria Harbour in Central.

To loud cheers of “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” and “Go! Go! PADS!” from OFW fans on the promenade on Sunday, defending champions PADS charged ahead at the boom of the cannon and progressively left its five challengers behind as it raced to the finish line.

Here is a link to the race which PADS dominated from start to finish:
https://www.facebook.com/mtainjack67/videos/10155909285521523/?q=virgilio%20bello%20lumicao

The victory won a large gold trophy and a bunch of gold medals for the physically challenged men and women of PADS.

Yas San Kam Ying took second place and NAAC Top Brilliance finished third.

“I’m overjoyed. We did it again. Once more, we have proved the capability of the Filipino,” said coach and drummer Christian Ian Sy as he waded through the crowd of screaming and flag-waving fans who pressed towards the paddlers.

PADS member with adoring fans

Minutes later, members of the team posed with bevies of tearful Filipinas and a few locals who shared the pride and joy of the hardy bunch who overcame their disabilities to become champions in one of the events of the annual dragon boat festival.

Consul Paulo Saret, who was present at the awarding ceremony, also beamed with pride at the achievement of PADS.

“Last year, they came here without support and won. Now they came back and they won again,” the diplomat told The SUN when asked to comment.

“Physical disability is not a hindrance to success. But they need the all-out support of our kababayans, and the PCG is always there to give our all-out support as long as we are informed in advance,” he said.

This year, PADS came to Hong Kong with a bigger contingent of 44 paddlers and four coaches as the team has expanded, manager JP Ecarma told The SUN. Last year, there were only 33. He was on hand to assemble his paddlers at Pier 9 for their semifinal race at 11:10am.

He said the team had prepared for three months for the event, initially training four times a week and then doing it every day as the tournament neared.

The team was also better off now than last year, when members had to scrounge for plane tickets and pocket money. Now it has a few corporate sponsors such as IMG and Alaxan, which sent their own media teams to document PADS’ glory quest.

This year, PADS surprised everyone when it competed in the heats on Jun 23 and finished in the top five to qualify for Sunday’s International Open Championship. The team, however, failed to win a place in the final.

Meanwhile, Triton bested five other teams from Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and New York in the 400 meters race to capture the International Women’s Championship.

It also took silver in the small boat category of that event.

Triton also competed in the International Mixed Championship 200-meter small boat event on Sunday afternoon, but its boat was struck by Hubbis Stormy Dragon’s when the Hong Kong team suddenly veered left from Lane 2.

Antonette Suyao, Triton manager, said her team had to slow down, causing it to lose time. She protested the incident with the organizing committee and, after reviewing a TV footage, the panel disqualified Stormy Dragon.

But she said the committee refused to let the team do a time trial race.

Ilegal ang gawain niya

Ni Merly Bunda

Si M.J. na isang Ilongga, 42 taong gulang at dalaga ay nahuli ng Immigration noong Mayo 3 habang nagbabantay sa kaha ng isang spa sa Hunghom na pag-aari ng amo niya.

Matagal na sigurong sinusubaybayan  ng mga autoridad ang shop bago ito pinasok at hinuli siya kasama ang apat na Thai na masahista. Na-deport yung mga Thai pero ipinaglaban ng amo ang kaso ni M.J. marahil ay nangangamba ito na masasabit din, depende sa sasabihin ng Pilipina.

Isang kaibigan ni M.J. ang nagsubok na kamustahin siya dahil nanghihingi ng tulong ang pamilya nito sa Iloilo, pero ayaw magsalita ng amo, at ang sabi ay may abugado nang humahawak sa kaso nila. Kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat nung kaibigan ni M.J. nang malaman na nakakulong ito sa Lowu Correctional For Women. Nasentensiyahan na pala siya ng hanggang apat na buwang pagkakulong magmula nang mahuli siya noong Mayo 3. Hindi na siya pinalabas at pinayagang magpiyansa habang dinidinig ang kanyang kaso.

Tinawagan ng kaibigan iyong kulungan sa Lowu at ang sabi sa kanya ay wala na doon si M.J. at kinuha ng Immigration para kunan muli ng pahayag, pero hindi daw nila alam kung saan na siya dinala. Kasalukuyan ngayong nakikipag-ugnayan ang kaibigan sa assistance to nationals section ng Konsulado para malaman kung nasaan na si M.J. at para mabigyan din ng tulong kung sakali.

Itinanong din ng kaibigan kung walang matatanggap na long service pay si M.J. dahil 15 taon itong nagsilbi sa amo, pero ang sabi sa kanya ay malabo dahil ilegal ang trabaho niya.

Matagal nang pinagsasabihan si M.J. ng kanyang mga kaibigan na itigil na ang pagtatrabaho sa spa dahil delikado. Wala din namang ekstra na sahod ang binibigay sa kanya ng amo, at alam nilang pareho na ayon sa kanilang kontrata ay sa bahay dapat nagtatrabaho si M.J.

Ayon pa sa kuwento ng mga kaibigan niya, may isang Thai na trabahador sa spa na biglang pinaalis ng amo at nagbabala ito na magsusumbong sa mga awtoridad. Malamang ay iyon ang nagsuplong. Dapat ay noon pa lang daw ay tumigil na si M.J. sa kanyang ilegal na trabaho at hindi na hinintay na mahuli pa siya at makulong. Kasalanan din naman niya ang nangyari, ang sabi pa nila.

Karanasan ng nag-overstay: TNT ng 19 taon

Ni Rodelia Villar

May 19 taon nang naninirahan ng ilegal sa Hong Kong si M.L., tubong Bisaya at 45 taong gulang nang makumbinsi siyang sumuko. Nakatagal siya dito dahil may mabait na mag-asawang kumupkop sa kanya at binayaran siya ng tama kaya napatapos niya sa pag-aaral ang tatlong kapatid. Sa tagal ng panahon na lagi siyang nagtatago sa maykapangyarihan ay napagod na siya, kaya gusto na niyang sumuko para makauwi na at makapiling ang pamilya. Ang tanging inaalala niya ang mag-asawang itinuring siyang parang isang kaanak.

Taong 1997 nang dumating siya dito para magkatulong na walang hangad kundi ang matulungan ang pamilya na makaahon sa hirap. Nakatapos ng high school si M.L. pero hindi na nagkolehiyo sa kagustuhang mag abroad at kumita agad ng malaki. Iniwan nya ang trabaho sa Pilipinas na may maliit na sahod. Umabot sa P50,000 ang nagastos ni M.L. bago makarating ng HK at binawas unti-unti sa kanyang suweldo kaya halos wala siyang kinita sa kanyang unang kontrata.

Sa pangalawang kontrata, na terminate siya ng amo pagkatapos ng tatlong buwang pagtatrabaho sa hindi niya malamang dahilan. Binayaran naman siya ng amo at tumira siya sa isang boarding house habang naghahanap ng bagong employer. Sa kasamaang palad may nagnakaw ng kanyang pasaporte at pera doon. Isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan doon ang nagyaya sa kanya sa parke, at pagbalik niya ay wala na ang kanyang mga gamit.

Balak daw niya noon na mag report sa Konsulado para makakuha ng bagong dokumento, pero may apat siyang kasamahan sa boarding house na TNT (tago nang tago), na nagyaya sa kanya na manatili na lang sa Hong Kong ng walang pahintulot katulad nila.

Sa unang dalawang taon niya bilang overstayer sa Hong Kong, nagpalipat-lipat siya ng boarding house at tumanggap ng trabahong ilegal para lang may maipadala sa pamilya sa Pilipinas. Tiniis niyang hindi makalabas ng Hong Kong para hindi maputol ang kanyang sustento sa pamilya.

Suwerte naman na pagkatapos noon ay may nakilala si M. L. na mag asawang Intsik na may anak na nag-aaral sa Canada, at kinuha siya ng mga ito bilang regular na parttime.

Dalawang beses sa isang linggo kung magtrabaho siya sa kanila noon, at agad na naging magaan ang loob ng mag-asawa sa kanya at itinuring sya na parang anak, siguro dahil malayo ang kanilang nag iisang anak at kailangan din nila ng kausap at kasama sa bahay.

Hindi naglaon ay kinausap ng mag asawa si M. L. na kung pwede ay sa kanila na siya magtrabaho at babayaran siya ng tamang sahod kahit wala silang kontrata dahil alam ng mag-asawa na ilegal siya sa Hong Kong. Dahil sa kanilang kabaitan ay nakapagpadala ng regular si M. L. sa pamilya sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng isang kaibigan.

Sa panahon ng kanyang pagsisilbi sa mag-asawang mabait ay namuhay na parang regular na kasambahay si M.L. Namamalengke siya at bumibisita sa mga kaibigan, at lumalabas at nagpa-party kasama ang mag-asawa, bagamat lagi silang nag-iingat na wala silang makakasalamuhang pulis.

Sa pagdaan ng mga panahon ay tanging si M. L. na lang ang natirang TNT sa kanilang magkaibigan sa dating boarding house dahil ang iba ay nahuli, nakulong at nakauwi na sa Pilipinas. Dahil sa mga kaibigan, nalaman ni M. L. ang mga lugar na pinagdadalhan sa mga nahuhuli, saan sila kinukulong, ano ang pwedeng dalhin sa loob, at ano ang ginagawa nila habang sila ay nakakulong. Pasikreto niyang pinuntahan ang lahat na mga lugar para daw alam na niya ang mangyayari sakaling sumuko na siya.

Nang makapagtapos ang kanyang mga kapatid ay lalong sumidhi ang pakiusap ng mga ito na sumuko na si M.L. para mapanatag na ang kanyang kalooban at dahil kaya na nila siyang bigyan ng magandang buhay kapalit ng kanyang pagpapakasakit para sa kanila. Ang tanging pumipigil kay M.L. dati ay ang mag-asawa na kumupkop sa kanya at itinuring siyang parang pamilya.

Napadali lang ang desisyon niyang umuwi na sa Pilipinas nang biglang makaramdam ng sakit si M.L. na ikinatakot niya. Walang tigil ang ubo niya at paninikip ng dibdib at kahit gusto niyang magpatingin sa doktor ay hindi niya magawa dahil sa kanyang kalagayan bilang overstayer. Ayaw niyang bigyan pa ng problema ang mga amo kaya humingi siya ng tulong sa isang kapwa Pilipina na nakikilala niya lang sa Facebook at alam niyang tumutulong sa mga OFW. Pumayag naman ang kapwa na Pilipina na samahan siyang magpatingin, bagamat pinayuhan din siya nito na sumuko na. Sa araw ng kanilang pagkikita ay parang himala na nawala ang lahat ng kanyang sakit. Dito naisip ni M.L. na panahon na nga siguro para siya ay sumuko. Nagkasundo sila na lumapit sa Konsulado para matulungan siyang sumuko, at baka sakaling mapagaan din ang kanyang parusa. Sinamahan si ML ng bagong kaibigan hanggang sa General Investigation Section ng Immigration sa Kowloon Bay kaya hindi siya masyadong kinabahan.

Nang magkita silang muli pagkatapos makulong si M.L. ng dalawang linggo ay masaya nitong ibinalita na malamang na makalabas na siya at makauwi sa Disyembre para makasama na muli ang pamilya. Malaya na rin siyang patuloy na makipagtalastasan sa mag-asawang kumupkop sa kanya, kahit sa pamamagitan lang ng FB.

Payo ni ML sa mga kapwa OFW, huwag hayaang maging ilegal ang kanilang pananatili sa Hong Kong dahil may mga paraan naman para sila makapanatili dito na hindi kakakaba-kaba at laging tago nang tago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam ng isang malaya.

Dinuraan ng kolektor

Si Althea, tubong Bisaya, ay 37 taong gulang pa lang ngunit biyuda na. Binangungot ang kanyang asawa wala pang isang taon ang nakakaraan kaya dumaan siya sa malaking pagsubok. Bukod sa tatlo ang anak nilang naiwan na walang tatay ay gumastos pa si Althea ng malaki para sa pagpapalibing sa asawa.

Dahil dito ay dalawang buwan na palaging kulang ang perang naihuhulog niya para sa kanyang utang sa isang financial company.

 Hindi naglaon ay tinatawagan na siya ng kolektor, noong una ay nakikiusap, pero nitong Hunyo 11 ay inakyat na siya sa bahay ng kanyang amo at dinuro-duro sa mukha. Hindi pa siya nakuntento, at biglang dinuraan sa mukha si Althea, mabuti ay nakailag siya kaya hindi siya tinamaan sa mukha.

Bago umalis ay binalaan pa siya ng kolektor na babalikan siya sa gabi para kausapin ang kanyang amo.

Nanginginig at maiyak-iyak na tumawag siya sa isang kaibigan para manghingi ng tulong. Tinulungan naman siya nito na pumunta sa assistance to nationals section ng Konsulado at doon ay pinayuhan siya na isumbong sa pulis ang ginawa ng kolektor.

Kapag bumalik daw pang muli ang kolektor ay bumalik siya sa ATN para magawaan ng sulat na ipapadala sa asosasyon ng mga financing company dito para ireklamo ang kumontrata sa bastos na kolektor.

Batid ni Althea na marami nang mga katulong ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa mga salbaheng kolektor ng mga pautangan. Naging leksyon daw sa kanya ang nangyari. Ngayon ay tinatantiya niya kung ano ang balak gawin ng kanyang mga amo na binulabog ng kolektor. Alam niya na maaring hindi na siya muling pirmahan ng kontrata pero handa na raw siya dahil may nakita na siyang amo na maari nyang lipatan, doon din sa North Point kung saan nakatira ang kasalukuyan niyang amo. – Merly Bunda

Making siomai and kutsinta

Seminar participants display the products they made.

By Marites Palma

Around 200 Filipina domestic workers joined a free siomai and kutsinta making session held on Jun 10 at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town, as part of the livelihood training program by Card Hong Kong Foundation.
The workshop was conducted by Card trainors Emilia L. Dellosa, Madelia S. Galve, Joan Cabodil and Rechel Montoya. They told the participants that siomai and kutsinta are among the easiest delicacies to make, and could be a good source of income for them when they go back home to the Philippines.
At first, the participants had difficulty forming the siomai, but they were smiling in no time once they got the hang of doing it.
Siomai and kutsinta are among a number of easy-to-make delicacies for which training is offered by Card Hong Kong. We are sharing the simple recipes for them here.
Those who would like to join the workshops by Card Hong Kong on financial literacy, investment and livelihood training, may check their Facebook page, Card Hong Kong Foundation, for future schedules and other details.
A financial literacy session has been scheduled for Saturday, Jun 23, and on Sunday, Jul 22. Those who wish to join may call telephone numbers  96066810, 54238196, or 95296392.


Siomai 

Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs ground pork
1 cup shrimp-minced
2 cups water chestnuts or turnip, minced
5 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 cup onion or shallots, minced
1 cup carrots, minced
1 1/2 cups white mushroom, minced
1 pack wonton wrapper (recipe is below if you can’t get them from the grocery)
1/4 cup spring onions, minced
2 tsp salt
1 raw egg
water for steaming

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients except for the water and wonton wrapper, and mix thoroughly.
2. Wrap the mixed ingredients in the wonton wrapper.
3. Using a steamer, steam the wrapped siomai for 15 to 25 minutes. The time depends on the size of each individual piece (larger size means more time for steaming)
4. Serve hot with soy sauce and calamansi or lemon dip. Share and enjoy.
(Recipe yields 100 pieces of siomai).

Siomai or wonton wrapper

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 egg
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

Procedure:
1. Sift the the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and make a well at the center.
2. Put the egg and water into the well and mix together, then knead well until the mixture becomes firm but not sticky.
3. Let it rest for 45 minutes to allow the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out.
4. Sprinkle cornstarch or flour on the space where you will knead the dough. After 45 minutes, divide the gough into halves, then use a rolling pin to knead the dough, then flatten it as thin as you can to make the siomai wrapper. While still working on the first half cover the other half to avoid from drying.
5. Trim the sides to make a big square or rectangle, then cut into siomai wrappers.

Kutsinta

Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 cup +1 tbsp tapioca flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp lye water
1 tsp annatto/ achuete powder for coloring

Procedure:
1. Slightly grease your kutsinta molds with oil and set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, tapioca flour and sugar.
3. Add in the water and stir until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
4. Add the annatto/achuete powder and mix well. Then stir in the lye water.
5. Fill the molds about 3 quarters (3/4)full and steam for 40 minutes or until the top is set when touched.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool before removing from the molds.
7. Serve with grated coconut.
 (Recipe yields
12 pieces of kutsinta)

Three Pinoys in Central brawl arrested for fighting in public, allowed to post bail

By Daisy CL Mandap

Ricky Lizo

Three men – two Filipino drivers and a Chinese-Filipino muay thai instructor - who figured in a much-publicized brawl in Central on Jun 17 (Sunday) night have been arrested for fighting in public and told to report back to the police in late July.

In addition, Sebastian Chancell Wong, 38, the muay thai fighter and Hong Kong resident who speaks fluent Filipino, was booked for assaulting a police officer.

He and brothers Enrique “Ricky” Lizo, 50, and Denise Lizo,  47, both family drivers; were allowed to post police bail while they all recuperated from their wounds in Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam where they were taken shortly after the melee. They reported back to the police yesterday, after being discharged from hospital.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Bureau issued earlier today (Jun 20), stated:
”Police received a report on June 17 that several men were fighting at D’Aguilar Street in Central.  Police arrived at scene and arrested one local and two NEC (non-ethnic Chinese) males aged between 38 and 50. During the course of arrest, a local male assaulted a police officer leading to injury on his wrist.

The case is classified as “fighting in a public place” and “assaulting a police officer”.  All the arrested persons have been released on Police bail and required to report back in late July. The case is being investigated by the District Investigation Team 5 of Central District.”

Sebastian Wong

A fourth person tagged by the Lizos as the one who mauled Ricky - professional Filipino boxer Jay Primo Solmiano - was not arrested. Despite this, Solmiano apparently reported to the Central Police station on Wednesday, Jun 20, to clear his name, after being accused in some reports as having gone into hiding.

Wong posted a picture on Facebook of Solmiano and himself outside the police station, saying it was meant to dispute reports that his friend Jay was in hiding.

Pictures of the Lizos and Wong, with their faces all bloodied and their eyes puffy from the beating, circulated on social media shortly after video footages taken during the actual fighting were posted online.

According to Ricky, who said he and his brother have both been working as family drivers in Hong Kong for about 11 years, the trouble started when they saw Wong slap a Filipina companion along D’Aguilar Street, near Stanley Street.

“Sinampal ni Sebastian yung babae. Sabi ko huwag mo saktan yung babae please…umupo na yung babae.. nag-iiyak.. Bigla nya sinugod brother ko.. nagulat ako.. eh may hawak akong bote.. pinalo ko sa ulo.. kasi alam kong muay thai fighter sya,” said Ricky in a chat message.

Ricky said the bottle came from a Filipino-owned pub they had just left. He also said Wong’s group had come from the same pub but were told to leave earlier after figuring in another fight.

His heftier brother reportedly helped stop Wong by elbowing him on the mouth, but the fighter retaliated by hitting Denise with a belt buckle.

Solmiano, who was initially seen in videos trying to stop the fight, ended up hitting Ricky to defend Wong, leaving the driver black and blue, his lips busted, and with his nose bloodied and apparently broken.

Jay Solmiano inside Central Police Station

But in a separate interview with a Philippine TV news station, Wong denied that he had hit his woman companion. He said the woman was drunk and was out of control so he tried to pacify her by holding her by the hand.

Wong said Ricky must have misinterpreted his actions, but instead of asking what was going on, the driver who was apparently drunk, hit him on the head with a beer bottle. Solmiano went to his rescue when the driver allegedly hit him again with the broken bottle.

Wong’s friends posted pictures of his stitched broken lip and head wounds to prove that he was himself badly wounded from the scuffle.

Wong and Denise Lizo were discharged from the hospital after two days, while Ricky had to stay for another day. Despite being allowed to go home, Ricky said he is due to return to the hospital early next month for surgery on his broken nose. He has also been told to rest for a few days before going back to work.

Solmiano, who had posted an apology on his Facebook page for his involvement in the brawl, has since deactivated his account. He has declined all requests for an interview.

Three Pinoys in Central brawl face police investigation

By Daisy CL Mandap

Ricky Lizo 

Three Filipinos who figured in a much-publicized brawl in Central on the night of  Jun 17 (Sunday) are due to report back to police tonight to face questioning on charges of fighting in public.

The three – brothers Enrique “Ricky” and Denise Lizo, both family drivers; and Sebastian Chancell Wong (aka Sebastian Yip), a muay thai instructor and Hong Kong resident– were allowed to post police bail while they recuperated at Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam where they were taken after the melee.

A fourth person said to have been involved in the brawl, professional boxer Jay Primo Solmiano, reportedly turned himself in at Central Police station on Wednesday, Jun 20, after being earlier reported as having gone into hiding.

Wong posted a picture on Facebook of Solmiano and himself outside the police station, saying it was meant to dispute reports that his friend Jay was in hiding.

Sebastian Wong

An officer of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr. has told The SUN the Lizo brothers and Wong are being investigated in connection with the incident.

Pictures of all three, with their faces all bloodied and their eyes puffy from the apparent beating, circulated on social media shortly after video footages taken during the actual fighting were posted online.

(Watch one of the videos here: https://www.facebook.com/irene.cobarte/videos/1735163663198692/

According to Ricky Lizo, who said he and his brother have both been working as family drivers in Hong Kong for about 11 years, the trouble started when they saw Wong slap a Filipina companion along D’Aguilar street. The brothers reportedly told Wong to stop, but instead of complying, the younger Filipino allegedly shoved Denise aside.

Fearing for his brother since he knew the alleged assailant as a professional fighter, Ricky said he hit Wong in the head with a beer bottle, which he had taken along from a pub they had just left.

“Pinalo ko ng bote,” Ricky admitted.

His heftier brother reportedly helped stop Wong by elbowing him on the mouth, but the fighter retaliated by hitting Dennis with a belt buckle.

Solmiano, who was seen in the videos initially trying to stop the fight, ended up hitting Ricky to defend his friend Wong, leaving the driver black and blue, his lips busted, and with his nose bloodied and apparently broken.

Jay Solmiano inside Central Police station

But in a separate interview with a Philippine TV news station, Wong denied that he had hit his woman companion. He said the woman was drunk and was out of control so he tried to pacify her by holding her by the hand.

Wong said Ricky must have misinterpreted his actions, but instead of asking what was going on, the driver who was apparently drunk, hit him on the head with a beer bottle. Solmiano went to his friend's rescue when the driver allegedly hit him again with the broken bottle.

Wong showed pictures of his stitched broken lip and head wounds to prove that he was himself badly wounded from the scuffle.

Wong and Denise Lizo were discharged from the hospital after two days, while Ricky had to stay for another day. Despite being allowed to go home, Ricky said he is due to return to the hospital early next month for surgery on his broken nose. He has also been told to rest for a few days before going back to work.

Solmiano, who had posted an apology on his Facebook page for his involvement in the brawl, has since deactivated his account. He has apparently declined all requests for an interview.

Police have yet to respond to a query on the result of their investigation into the incident.

Protect our children, stop child abuse

By PathFinders

All children should be protected from harm and be entitled to healthy development regardless of race, birth place and wealth. Unfortunately, the reality is that child abuse happens in all communities, including in Hong Kong.

As many current or former foreign domestic workers are responsible for undertaking childcare duties for their employers and/or have to care for their own children, it is very important for them to have a clear knowledge of the legal boundaries and social expectations related to child protection in Hong Kong. 

In this article, we aim to raise awareness on child protection by sharing child abuse cases and providing advice for FDWs on ways to protect their children and the children they care for.

Child abuse falls typically into four categories: physical, sexual, psychological and neglect.

According to statistics from the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department, 947 cases of child abuse were reported in 2017 in Hong Kong.

Within the community of migrant mothers and children, PathFinders last year handled 23 cases in which the children involved were at risk. Since its establishment in 2008, Pathfinders has helped 2,497 toddlers and children (aged 0-2), of whom 170 were at significant risk of abuse, violence, neglect or trafficking.

In Hong Kong, specific ordinances and legislations have been established and enforced to combat child abuse.

The first case we would like to share involved a current FDW. Last December, the worker filmed three children under her care (aged five to seven) naked in a shower. Unaware that the filming and publishing were illegal, she then live-streamed the 17-minute video on Facebook. The FDW was subsequently arrested for “publication of child pornography”.

Although the regretful FDW pleaded guilty to “obtaining access to a computer with dishonest intent” and her employer accepted her apology in a mitigation letter, the maid was still sentenced to three months’ imprisonment due to the seriousness of the offence.

The maximum penalties for violating these two ordinances are a $2 million fine and imprisonment of 5 years for the first offence, and 8 years for the second.

Apart from the FDWs, migrant mothers in Hong Kong are also at risk of committing child abuse and of unintentionally putting their children in danger.

The second case, which PathFinders handled, was that of a 3-year-old boy who lived in a government-funded shelter with his migrant mother and 6-year-old brother. The abuse occurred when the mother took her sons to visit their father. Angry over a minor misbehavior, the father poured hot water on his younger son, seriously scalding the little boy’s lower torso and thighs.

As a victim of the father’s abuse herself, the mother was terrified. To protect herself and her children from further abuse, she decided not to report the father’s crime to the police.

The migrant women involved in both cases did not intend to cause any harm to the children they cared for. However, their lack of knowledge about child protection, parenting skills and, in the second case, the mother’s lack of confidence and emotional strength, led them to unintentionally violate the law or being unable to act in the best interest of the children under their care.

Given the vast differences in the cultural, legal and social environments between their home countries and Hong Kong, it is very important for migrant mothers and FDWs to have a clear understanding of the laws concerning child abuse in Hong Kong and to develop their overall knowledge of how to protect children’s rights and safety.

PathFinders provides counseling, education workshops and shelter to enrich the FDWs’ and migrant mothers’ childcare and parenting skills, equipping them with the knowledge and resilience to fight child abuse and empowering them to do the right thing in protecting the children under their care from harm.

Child protection is not only the responsibility of parents. It requires awareness and support from all caregivers and the entire community. To report child abuse, please call the Hong Kong Police at 999.

For enquiries and assistance, you may contact Hong Kong Social Welfare Department at 2343 2255 or PathFinders’ client hotline at 5190 4886. For information on PathFinders’ workshops, please visit our website at www.PathFinders.org.hk or call our client hotline.

Placement agency charges —for the Nth time

By Cynthia Tellez

It is quite disheartening to have the chance to discuss this topic every now and then. We have noticed that migrant workers continuously approach the Mission for assistance for this kind of problem, most of them new arrivals. This means that the information drive in our home country about placement agency fees is not sufficient, if it is being done at all.

Our compatriots leaving the Philippines as household service workers, to any parts of the world including Hong Kong, should be reminded that by law, placement agencies are prohibited from charging placement fees. It is zero-agency-fees for household service workers (e.g. domestic workers, caregivers, caretakers).

As a matter of agreement, the Philippine government has established the Standard Employment
Contract (Contract) with Hong Kong. In the Contract , it is clearly stipulated that the expenses of processing the employment of a new domestic worker in Hong Kong should be shouldered by the employer. This includes the visa fee, plane fare, Philippine government mandatory fees such as the POEA and OWWA, and other requirements either from the government of both countries or by the prospective employer, including medical certificates and the like. (see Clause no. 8 of the Contract)

However, placement agencies in the Philippines have exploited the POEA policy of requiring assessment and training for applicants processing their contract application from the Philippines. The range of fees reported to the Mission alone is from PhP5,000 to PhP150,000! Unfortunately, there is NO standard fee to these two requirements. Placement agencies then have a way of charging their applicants to their heart’s desire. The common practice, therefore, is charging the applicants without issuing receipts or they may issue one but with only the “acceptable” amount written on it.

There are other schemes experienced and shared by migrant workers, such as agencies asking for a “facilitation fee” to supposedly expedite the issuance of a medical certificate by a medical clinic they know (of which some employers are skeptical so they require another medical examination when they arrive in Hong Kong). Some agencies also charge for the plane fare on the pretext that they had not yet received the plane ticket from the employer for the migrant worker’s travel. Indeed, there are many other ways and means that agencies use to extract money from their applicants.

But most of the victims of these unscrupulous agencies do not know anything about the no-placement-fee policy. Most are first timers, or even if they are former OFWs they are simply not aware of it because there is no sufficient and thorough information campaign on it from the POEA, which is supposed to enforce the policy.

If victimized, what can be done and what should be done when applying?
1. Have a good account of every step that you take while processing your employment contract application.
2. Keep a record of every single event, action, conversation and instructions every step of the way.  In other words, keep a diary and actively update it. You may share it with any of your relatives.
3. On your departure for Hong Kong, be sure to bring with you the receipts or any papers that the agency signed, or acknowledged, to prove the payments that you made, and most importantly, the written account of how things went during the process.
4. When already in Hong Kong, the earliest you can go to any service providers for consultation, the better. You will need their guidance on how to go about filing a claim for the illegal exaction of fees by your agency.
5. Remember this. If the illegal fee was recorded in the Philippines but the collection of money is happening in Hong Kong, it is better to refer the claims to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), an extension of the Philippine Labour Department based in Hong Kong, to stop it.
6. At POLO:
a) Present your statement explaining how the illegal exaction of fees happened. Even for those who were forced by circumstances to make a loan and the whole amount was taken by the agency, be sure that you have a good account of what happened You may need the assistance of any service providers to assist you in making your statement.
b) Submit the statement to POLO and ask them to assist you in claiming back the illegal fees collected from you by the agency and if applicable, waive the disputed “loan”.
c) A conciliation meeting might be scheduled. This meeting is between you and the agency representative with a POLO official serving as the arbiter and facilitator at the meeting. Hopefully, the claims are settled at this level.  This means that the agency should give you back the fees illegally collected from you because the agency in Hong Kong is equally responsible for any actions committed by the agency in the Philippines.
d) If the parties fail to reach a settlement at the meeting, you can be endorsed by the POLO official to the POEA in Manila.
e) We know how difficult the justice system in our country is, so let us take the extra step of lodging a complaint at the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Employment Agency Administration (EAA) against the illegal fees collected by the counterpart agency in Hong Kong. This is to record the illegal activities of the Hong Kong agency.
f) Meanwhile, when filing claims in the Philippines against the Philippine-based agency, you may need more assistance to hurdle the bureaucracy there. Let a service provider in Hong Kong, like the Mission, refer you to a service provider based in the Philippines. But make sure that you take note of what you need to prepare: get an Endorsement letter to POEA from POLO and make a Special Power of Attorney naming a person whom you are authorizing to file the claims and to further represent you at the POEA and in subsequent hearings.

It is strongly suggested that when the illegal collection of fees happens, share the information to your employer to make them understand your predicament. They might even help you address the matter with the authorities. If you are unsure on how to go about this, consult a service provider like the Mission.

In most cases, if not all, those victimised by unscrpulous agencies do not have any proof or evidence (i.e. official receipts) that payments were, indeed, made to the agency. It does not mean that you cannot file a case. A detailed account of what happened will be most helpful in place of this evidence. 

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This is the monthly column from the Mission for Migrant Workers, an institution that has been serving the needs of migrant workers in Hong Kong for over 31 years. The Mission, headed by its general manager, Cynthia Tellez, assists migrant workers who are in distress, and  focuses its efforts on crisis intervention and prevention through migrant empowerment. Mission has its offices at St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central, and may be reached through tel. no. 2522 8264.

Dayong katulong sa paningin ng mga taga-HK

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Batay sa tratong-alipin ng di-iilang amo sa kanilang mga dayuhang katulong at sa mga patakaran ng gobyerno ng Hong Kong, ang mga kasambahay ay itinuturing na parang mga walang personalidad sa lungsod na ito.

Mahirap tanggapin ang katotohanang may mga among Intsik na mas mahal ang kanilang mga alagang aso kaysa sa mga katulong na ipinagpalit ang sariling mga pamilya at dignidad upang nagsisilbi sa kanila.

Mababa kaysa sa hayop ang turing nila sa bawa’t Pilipino, Indonesian o iba pang dayuhang naglilingkod sa mga pamilyang lokal na kayang magpasahod sa kanila. Madalas, ganoon din ang turing nila pati sa mga nakakaangat na kalahi ng mga katulong dito.

Halos dalawang dekada matapos umalma ang mga Pilipino sa sinabi ng kolumnistang si Chip Tsao na tayo ay “isang bansa ng mga busabos” (a nation of servants), muling sumungaw kamakailan ang panliliit ng mga tagarito sa mga dayuhang katulong.

Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, kasama na ang iba pang mga lahi sa nilait ng isang mambabatas ng Hong Kong, si Eunice Yung ng New People’s Party. Ang pinuna niya ay ang pagsisiksikan ng mga DH sa mga liwasan, mga tulay na pantao, at sa ilalim ng mga tulay kapag araw ng kanilang pahinga.

Ayon kay Yung, ang mga nakahambalang na karagatan ang mga dayuhang katulong sa mga pasyalan ng mga taga-Hong Kong ay nagdudulot ng abala at panganib sa kalusugan ng mga lokal na mamamayan.

Nagpanting ang mga taynga ng mga katulong, kabilang ang mga tagasuporta nilang Intsik at iba pang mga lahi. Ayon sa kanila, nababakas sa tinuran ni Yung ang diskriminasyon at panliliit sa ibang lahi at nasasalamin doon ang mga patakaran ng gobyerno ng Hong Kong na nagsasawalang-bahala sa mala-aliping pagtrato at abang kalagayan nila.

Hindi pinakikinggan ng gobyerno ang mga hinaing ng mga katulong ukol sa sapilitang pagtira nila sa bahay ng amo, labis-labis na oras ng pagtatrabaho, kawalan o kakulangan ng proteksiyon laban sa pagmamalabis ng mga amo, at di pantay na parusang ipinapataw sa amo at sa kanyang katulong kapag sila ay parehong napatunayang lumabag sa batas.

Ilan na ang mga kaso ng pananakit, pagmamalabis o pang-aabuso ng amo sa katulong ang matagumpay na inusig sa korte at napatawan ng karampatang parusa ang maysala? Halos wala. Tanging ang kaso ni Erwiana Sulistiyaningsih ang nagtagumpay sa korte. Nakulong ang amo dahil natuunan ng pandaigdigang media ang kaso at puting hukom ang lumitis.

Ngunit sa kasabay na kaso diumano ng pagmamalupit ng amo sa katulong, pinawalang-sala ng korte ang amo ni Anis Andriyani sa bintang na tinangka niyang putulin ang talasinsingan ng katulong matapos nitong iwasiwas ang walis sa alagang aso ng amo.

Ang halos kasabay ding kaso ng pagmamalupit ng amo na dinanas ng isa pang katulong, si Rowena Uychiatco, ay binale-wala ng pulisya dahil daw sa kakulangan ng ebidensiya.

Nariyan ding bantulot ang pulisya na aksiyunan ang mga kaso ng pambibiktima ng mga manloloko sa mga katulong, lalo na kung may kasangkot na salapi. Nakapagtataka ito dahil kapag may na-scam sa mga mamamayang lokal ay kumikilos kaagad ang pulisya at mabilis na nalulutas ang kaso.

Marami sa mga korte rito ang mga kasong panlilinlang sa kapwa na ang mga biktima at maysala ay mga lokal na mamamayan. Mabilis na dininig at dinisisyunan ng hukuman ang mga kaso nila.

Samantala, ilang kaso ng panlilinlang ng mga gahamang recruiter sa mga katulong ang ayaw pakialaman ng pulisya, at kapag naisampa naman ang mga iyon sa hukuman ay natutulog doon. Kapag napatunayan namang nagkasala ang recruiter, pagmumultahin lang ito ng kakatiting lamang ng kabuuang halagang piniga sa mga biktima.

Marami pang pagmamaltrato o diskriminasyon sa mga katulong ang madalas masaksihan ng madla sa Hong Kong, tulad ng hindi pagpapagamit sa kanila sa mga lift na pang-residente sa ilang gusaling tirahan, ang pagbabawal sa kanila sa mga clubhouse ng mga residential estate, ang pang-aaway ng mga local sa kanila sa mga park o mga bus.

Maraming insidente noong nakaraan ang ibinabalik sa alaala ng salita ni Eunice Yung. Kulang na lamang marahil na may magsabit ng karatula sa bungad ng liwasan na ganito ang nakasulat: “Bawal dito ang mga dayuhang katulong.”

Siguro ay oras na para itigil ng ibang bansa ang pagpapadala ng mga katulong dito. 

Nabaon sa utang

Naawa na naiinis ang mga kaibigan ni Josie dahil tuwing araw ng pahinga ay palagi na lamang siyang nanghihingi ng $5, na pamasahe daw niya sa mini bus. Maaga siyang lumalabas tuwing Linggo para maabangan niya mga kapwa niya Pinay sa sakayan ng bus para makahingi ng barya-barya lang.

Nagtataka ang mga hinihingan niya ng pera tuwing araw ng pahinga kung bakit lagi na lamang siyang nanghihingi, hanggang sa kalaunan ay nalaman nila na sagad pala ito sa utang kaya lahat ng sahod niya ay naipapambayad niya buwan-buwan.

Nagpatayo daw kasi siya ng bahay kaya kinailangan niyang umutang ng malaki. May trabaho naman sa Pilipinas ang asawa niya kaya wala siyang problema sa allowance ng mga anak nila. Nagtutulungan sila na makamit mga pangarap nila para sa kanilang pamilya, pero si Josie ang nagmumukhang kawawa.

Kung kani-kanino siya nakikikain sa simbahan na kanyang dinadaluhan, lumalapit siya sa mga umpukan ng mga Pinay at nakikipagkwentuhan hanggang ayain na siyang kakain. Bago umuwi ay hihirit pa siyang humingi ng $5 para sa kanyang pamasahe pauwi.

Payo naman ng isang kakilala niya, sana naman ay magtira siya sa kanyang sahod ng pangkain at pamasahe para hindi siya magmukhang kawawa. May isa namang nagsabi na maaring ayaw ni Josie na magtagal sa Hong Kong kaya ganoon na lang ang kayod niya. Gusto lang niyang matapos ang ipinatayong bahay, at pagkatapos ay uuwi na para makasama na ang kanyang pamilya. Kahit magsakripisyo na siya ng husto, kahit mamalimos na, ay gagawin para sa pamilya.

Si Josie ay tubong Metro Manila, may asawa at anak, 35 taong gulang, at malapit ng matapos ang unang kontrata sa pamilyang kanyang pinaninilbihan sa New Territories. – Marites Palma

Nang dahil sa spaghetti

Bago pa lang si Lani sa kanyang amo na mabait naman pero sobrang selan pagdating sa kanilang kinakain. Lahat ng pagkain ay dapat eksakto sa timbang, lalo na yung baon ng mga bata sa eskuwela. Dapat alam ni Lani kung ilang grams ng pasta ang lulutuin kasama na ang gulay at pansahog na karne o isda dahil dapat ay tama lang na mailagay niyang lahat sa lunch box nila na walang sobra. 

Minsan ay nagluto ng spaghetti si Lani at may dalawang subo ng spaghetti na sumobra. Nilagay niya sa isang tabi at tinakpan, at pagkatapos magligpit sa kusina ay kanyang kinain. Nakita siya ng kanyang among babae at pinagalitan siya. 

Sumama ang loob ni Lani na sarap na sarap pa namang kumain. Hindi niya lubos maisip na sa kaunting tira ay pagagalitan siya ng amo niya. Kaya imbes na tumigil ay tinapos nya ang pagkain ng spaghetti, sabay sabi ng, “Sayang itapon kaya kinain ko, kung galit ka na kinain ko ang spaghetti just deduct from my salary.” 

Tahimik na umalis ang amo ni Lani bitbit ang lunch box ng mga bata. Pagod man pero napatawa si Lani sa ginawa nya, sabay sabi sa sarili na “1 point” dahil nakuha niyang mangatwiran sa amo niya. Pagbalik niya mula sa paghahatid sa mga bata sa eskwelahan ay hinanda na niya ang kanyang tenga sa sermon ng amo.

Pero laking gulat ni Lani dahil hindi lang siya hindi pinagalitan kundi ay kinausap siya ng mahinahon at humingi ng paumanhin ang amo. 

Hindi niya akalain na nang dahil lang sa spaghetti ay naging mabait ang kanyang amo. Patapos na ang kanyang kontrata ngayon at kinausap siya ng amo na pumayag siyang mag renew dahil gusto daw nila ang serbisyo niya. 

Laking tuwa naman ni Lani lalo at kailangan pa niya ng trabaho para sa mga anak na nasa kolehiyo. Si Lani, 48 taong gulang, ay nagtatrabaho sa Mei Foo at tubong Batangas. - Rodelia Villar

All-Filipina team Divas grand slam cricket champs

By Vir B. Lumicao

Jennifer Alumbro delivered three sixes and bowled out three rival players as Filipinas stormed to the championship of Cricket Hong Kong’s Development League on Jun 3 with a clean sweep of all their games in their maiden season in the sport.

he form that carried the team to victory.

The SCC Divas, an all-domestic helper team, formally took the crown via a devastating 141-run victory in 16 overs against their Game 2 opponents Craigengower Cricket Club, which managed only 37 runs.

The Filipinas warmed up for the final match in a 124-run win in 16 overs against United Services Recreation Club’s 48 in the morning game.

“Thank you for making this league very exciting,” head coach British Richard Waite told the Divas players after the final game.

Waiter later handed the team a small, token gold trophy, which he said would be replaced with a big one at the awarding of trophies and medals on Jun 22, at a still unknown venue.

“You easily dominated the league in your first cricket tournament. Next season, we will move you up to the T20 league, where you will be playing against more experienced teams,” Waite said. He urged the Filipinas to invite more of their friends to the sport.

Opposing teams in a T20 game play a single innings restricted to 20 overs.

Jennifer Alumbro was declared the most valuable player of the day, as she scored three sets of six runs against USRC by batting the ball past the border in the first game on Jun 3 and another six in the match against CCC. Ma Luz Madia was also picked as an MVP.

For the entire league that began on May 6, Alumbro was the highest scorer with a total of 193 runs. Close behind her was Divas captain Josie Arimas with 189 runs, and while Zeny Badajos was the third-highest with 140.

“I’m speechless. I can’t believe we are the champions,” Arimas told The SUN after the league. The former Palarong Pambansa baseball player from Bacolod was astounded after the last match.

“Grand slam talaga, walang talo,” she said, digesting her team’s success. “Ang saya kanina. Tapos, ang kalaban (CCC) ay dating naglalaro na sa main league.”

Team manager Animesh Kulkani was not in Hong Kong to watch his wards clinch the championship, but was in touch by phone most of the time during the match asking how the team was faring, Arimas said.

The Filipinas’ cutting edge appeared to be their background in baseball and softball, which made them “strong whackers,” as Hong Kong national team coach Waite has described them. Their experience on the diamond also made them good bowlers.

The left-handed Alumbro, a slugger from Aklan, denied the all-Hongkonger CCC a chance to overtake the 141 runs that the Divas had strung in their innings by dismissing three batters with precision bowling. 

The SCC Divas celebrate their victory in the Cricket Hong Kong’s Development League.

Romina Osabel, a powerful softball and baseball player, took down two wickets while Arimas dropped one as the Divas showed the opponents they were on target even from a distance. Badajos did just that when she recovered as fast ball from the right field and struck down the stump about 20 meters away.

All CCC could score in their innings was 37 runs for 16 overs, after losing some from deductions for the fallen wickets.

Coach Najeeb Amar, who honed up the baseball and softball-oriented Filipinas in this entirely unfamiliar sport, joined the players in savoring their victory.

“You made my life easier, girls,” Amar said, recalling that it was he who at first had some difficulty calling them up for training, understandably because of their jobs. But it did not take long before the Filipinas themselves would call him to come out and train them, he said.

He said in the T20 league, he will divide the 25 Divas players into two teams playing in the same tournament. 
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For now, the team will have a month-long rest before they begin rigid training for the next season, which will begin in September.

Mahal ang yaya

Mahigit ng 20 taon na nagsisilbi si Rita sa mga among Indian na mayaman at taga Mid-Levels, at siya na ang nagpalaki sa dalawang anak ng mga ito na ngayon ay parehong binata na. Naging sobrang malapit si Rita sa mga alaga, lalo na at ang ina ng mga ito ay mahilig sa sosyalan at hindi masyadong naalagaan ang mga anak.

Pero dahil halata ng ina ang sobrang lapit ng mga anak kay Rita ay malaki ang lihim nitong galit sa katulong. Noong pareho nang pumunta sa Amerika ang dalawang binata para doon mag-kolehiyo ay sinamantala ng kanilang ina ang pagkakataon at pinaalis si Rita sa kanilang bahay.

Nalaman ito ng dalawang binata, at agad-agad na bumalik sa Hong Kong ang panganay para awayin ang ina, at sabihan ito na kunin ulit si Rita.

Walang nagawa ang ina kundi sundin ang anak, lalo pa at totoo naman na malaki ang ibinuwis na hirap ni Lita para mapalaki ng maayos ang mga binata.

Isa itong malaking patunay ang pagpapahalaga nila sa kanilang kasambahay.

Tuwang tuwa naman na tinanggap ni Rita ang alok na bumalik sa mga amo dahil parang tunay na mga anak na rin ang turing niya sa mga alaga, kahit na may sarili siyang pamilya sa Pilipinas. - LMD

How to stand up for your rights

By George Manalansan

Ever experienced being treated wrongly because you’re a migrant worker, and a member of an ethnic minority group?

This was what happened on May 31 to Rowena Bustos, 47 and a native of Pampanga, who found herself being overcharged for some grocery items she bought from a store in Shaukeiwan.

After going through the receipt given her, Bustos realized there had been a mistake, and decided to go back to complain to the cashier. But instead of explaining the charges, the cashier took one look at her and ignored her request to go over the receipt with her. The cashier then spoke in Cantonese to another store employee, and the two of them told Bustos to leave the store.

The Filipinas was so upset at the way she was treated. The grocery staff did not even listen to what she was complaining about, even if she tried her best to sound respectful. On the way back home, she weighed things through. Should she let things be, or should she seek redress? She decided to seek justice.

She called up her employer, a former policeman, and he immediately agreed to go back with her to the store.

At the store, the cashier was suddenly meek, and readily admitted her mistake on checking the receipt. She also apologized for the error, and Bustos’ employer graciously accepted the apology, having proved his point.

The former police officer commended the helper for her vigilance and courage in defending her rights despite being bullied.

Bustos for her part, is advising her fellow domestic workers to always stand up for their rights, and to never let anyone degrade them.

Mga taong grasa at OFW

Mapagmatyag na tao sa kapaligiran si Dindo, 40, taga Maynila, at kabilang sa mga napagtuunan niya ng pansin ang isang matandang taong grasa. Napansin niya na kapag inaabutan ito ng pagkain ng mga nagdaraan, ano pa man ang lahi, ay ayaw nitong tanggapin. Pero kapag iniwanan nila ang pagkain sa ibabaw ng basurahan at kanya itong kukunin.

Kamakailan ay naikuwento ni Dindo sa mga ka-tropa sa Statue Square ang tungkol sa matanda, at ang lahat ay nagtaka sa narinig.

“Bakit kaya?” ang tanong ng lahat.

Ang taong grasa ba na ito ay naninindigan na hindi siya mamamalimos, balik-tanong ni Dindo. Sagot ng isa, ayaw siguro magkaroon ng utang na loob. Biglang napahagalpak ang isa pa, “Aba, mataas ang pride chicken” wika niya. “Maaring may mapait na karanasan ang matanda” sabat ng isa pa. Dito na nabuksan ang usapin tungkol sa mga taong grasa o ang iba pang may problema sa katinuan na makikita sa lansangan.

Sabi ni Dindo, maaring ang mga taong grasa ay may bubog o sugat sa pagkatao na hanggang ngayon ay dada-dala pa.

Iyung matandang “ma pride ay lagi daw niyang nakikita noon na palaboy-labor  sa may Shelter street sa Causeway Bay noong doon pa nakatira ang kanyang mga amo.

May isang Instik din na pilay at may diperensiya sa pangangatawan na laging nakapuwesto sa gitna mg mataong lugar sa Causeway Bay.

May isa pang nakabalot ng masking tape ang buong ulo at nakabalandra sa dulo ng kalsada sa gilid ng tindahan ng Sogo.

Hindi niya tuloy maiwasan ang mag-isip kung sino ang nag-aalaga sa mga ito kapag hindi nagpapalimos o namumulot ng pagkain. Akala daw niya noon, kapag maunlad ang isang lugar katulad ng Hong Kong ay walang nagpapalimos. – George Manalansan

Mga OFW naging kaibigan ng turista

Nagpunta ng Hong Kong si Cezar, isang inhenyero sa Pilipinas, upang mamasyal. Dumaan siya sa Chater Road at nakita ang pagtitipon ng mga Pilipino doon para sa programa ng Mission for Migrant Workers na “Care to Caregivers.”

Nakatuwaan niyang tumambay sa grupo na nagbibigay ng libreng masahe at blood pressure check-up. Tuwang tuwa ang mga miyembro nito kay Cezar dahil magiliw at masaya itong kausap kaya kahit unang pagkikita pa lang nila ay magaan na ang loob ng mga ito sa kanya.

Nakipagkilala si Cezar sa bawat isa at tinawag na kaibigan ang lahat sa grupo, bago humingi ng permiso para doon magpalipas ng buong araw.  Masayang nagkwentuhan ang lahat, at ipinaliwanag ng grupo ang takbo ng buhay ng mga OFW sa Hong Kong, lalo kapag araw ng pahinga.

Napabilib ng grupo si Cezar sa kanilang ipinakitang pagkakawanggawa at malasakit sa kapwa, kaya nasabi nitong masaya pala sa Hong Kong dahil nagtutulungan ang mga Pinoy. Paliwanag naman ng lider ng grupo, mas mabuti na ang tumulong sa kapwa kesa sa tumambay ng maghapon. Isang paraan din iyon para hindi mangulila sa pamilya na nasa Pilipinas, at para hindi mapabarkada sa mga taong mapagsamantala at walang ginagawang makabuluhan sa buhay.

Hindi pinalampas ni Cezar ang pagkakataon na i-add ang mga bagong kaibigan sa Facebook para daw kahit wala na siya sa Hong Kong ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang kanilang balitaan. Inimbitahan naman si Cezar ng lider ng grupo na makipagkita muli sa kanila sakaling bumalik sa Hong Kong.

Hindi nakalimutan ng lahat ang mag-selfie bago sila tuluyang naghiwalay-hiwalay. Nagpasalamat si Cezar sa grupo dahil sa kanilang naging masayang kuwentuhan sa maghapon. Si Cezar ay tubong Daet, Camarines Norte, at nagtatrabaho sa isang pribadong kumpanya sa Pilipinas. – Ellen Asis

Ay, mali: naghanapan ang mag-amo

Dapithapon nang tumawag ang amo ni Celia upang magpasundo sa Park N Shop dahil  marami itong pinamili na mga gamit para sa bahay. Sinabi ng amo na sunduin siya ni Celia, sa Park N Shop na nasa Bonham Road.

Dalawang beses siyang tinanong ni Celia kung saang Park N Shop sila magkikita bago siya nagmamadaling umalis. Dahil sa pagmamadali ay hindi niya nadala ang kanyang cellphone. Halos kinse minutos na siyang naghihintay at nakailang pasok at labas na siya sa grocery ay hindi pa rin niya makita kahit anino ng  amo.

Kinakabahan na siya dahil hindi niya nadala ang kanyang telepono kaya hindi niya ito matawagan. Tahimik siyang nanalangin bago biglang nakita niya ang kanyang ka-building na Indonesian. Nakiusap siyang makigamit ng telephone upang makontak ang amo. Mabuti na lang at memoryado niya  ang numero ng  amo.

“Where  are you?,” agad na tanong ng amo pagkarinig ng boses niya. Sabi naman niya, “Maam  I can’t see you, I’ve been  waiting outside Park N shop.” Noon lang biglang naisip ng amo na nasa Market Place pala siya sa Second Street at hindi sa Park N Shop sa Bonham.

Agad nang tumakbo si Celia sa tamang lugar, at halos maputulan ng hininga sa pagmamadali na makarating sa amo. Pawis na pawis siya nang magkita sila kaya binigyan ng amo ng tissue  si Celia upang pahiran niya ang kanyang pawis, sabay hingi ng paumanhin.

Nahiya din si Celia dahil hindi siya nagdala ng cellphone kaya napatagal nang husto ang kanilang pagkikita.

Dahil sa nangyari ay isinumpa niya na hindi na ulit lalabas ng bahay ng walang telepono lalo na at mali-mali din sa paghahabilin ang kanyang amo. Si Celia ay dalaga na tubong Mindanao at naninilbihan sa mga among Intsik na taga MidLevels at may dalawang anak. – Ellen Almacin

Home may be better for kids, judge tells asylum-seeker

By Vir B. Lumicao

A High Court judge told a Filipina torture claimant to respect other people and other countries and teach her children the right concept of appreciating possibly better opportunities in their own homeland.

Court of First Instance Judge Josiah Lam gave the advice to Virginia L. Caramat, a torture claimant who faces deportation with her three children after the Immigration Department’s Torture Claim Appeals Board rejected her application for non-refoulement.

Caramat appeared before Judge Lam on Jun 12 seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of the decision of the Immigration Director and the TCAB.

Non-refoulement claims are heard by Immigration Director and the TCAB under the government’s Unified Screening Mechanism introduced in March 2014 for refugees who fear harm upon returning to their country of origin.

Caramat told Lam she wanted her children to grow up in Hong Kong because it is safer to live here than in the Philippines or in her divorced husband’s country, Pakistan.

She claimed she fears for the safety of her daughter, aged 16, and two sons aged 13 and 18, allegedly because her elder brothers is threatening to harm them if they return to the Philippines because they are Muslims.

The applicant also claimed she does not want to return to Pakistan because they do not respect women in that country and that she could not work there.

In her application, Caramat did not include her children, so Judge Lam gave her a form and told her to add the names and birth dates of her children so that they would be covered by her application.

She said the youngsters’ father is a Pakistani named Iqbal who Caramat married after she converted to Islam in 1997. All three children were born in Hong Kong.

The family lived in Pakistan for a while but the couple divorced in September 2010. As she had no job, Iqbal took custody of the children and Caramat returned to Hong Kong alone in April 2013.

Iqbal came to Hong Kong in April 2014 and turned the children over to Caramat. He left afterwards and Caramat did not see him again until August last year, when he came after their youngest son had a heart attack and was in coma.

Iqbal returned to Pakistan three months later and came back in January when his sick son underwent surgery. Then he left for good in February, Caramat said.

Caramat said she relied on International Social Service allowances for her and the children’s sustenance.

The only ground Caramat cited for applying for leave to apply for a judicial review is her wish to keep her children safe in Hong Kong. She added she is afraid that Christian Filipinos will harm them as the kids are Muslim.

“I will do everything to protect them from harm from the Christian communities. I want to keep them away from the threats of my elder brother,” Caramat said. She added that she wants the children to grow up here because it is a safe place for them.

 “No, you have also to respect other countries as they may also have better future in other countries. While it is hard to find a better place for your children, it is right that you instill in their minds the right concept,” the judge said.

The judge said the Philippines or Pakistan could still offer the children a better future.
He told Caramat he would send her his written decision in due course.