Hinaing ng inang OFW

Hindi sinasadya ay napakinggan ni Marie ang pakikipag-usap sa telepono ng isang kababayan na naluluha. Ang asawa ang kausap nito, at sinusumbungan dahil hindi daw sinasagot ng kanilang mga anak ang kanyang mga tawag, kahit umabot na ito sa 10 ring.

Hindi naglaon ay pati ang asawa ay sinita dahil hindi din daw ito sumasagot sa kanyang mga tawag. “Kaya nga binigyan ko kayo ng tag-iisang cellphone para kahit anong oras kung may pagkakataon ay makakausap ko kayo. Pero bakit ganun, parang balewala ako sa inyo?”

Kahit yung mga pm ko ay “seen” lang, pero walang sagot, sabi pa nito. Pero kapag pera daw ang pina-uusapan ay napakabilis nila lahat sumagot, at kapag nakuha na ay balik dedma na sila sa mga pm niya.

Sa sama ng loob ay nasabi ni kabayan na parang mga mukhang pera ang pamilya niya dahil hindi man lang siya mabigyan ng kaunting kunswelo sa gitna ng kanyang paghihirap na mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan. Nakinig lang si Marie sa pakikipag-usap ng katabi pero nung pababa na siya ay tinapik niya ito sa balikat, sabay tanong ng “Ok ka lang ba, ate? Napangiti ang kausap at hinawakan nang mahigpit ang ang kanyang kamay, tanda ng pasasalamat. Gusto pa sana itong kausapin ni Marie ngunit kailangan na niyang bumaba.

Dahil nalungkot nang husto sa narinig na pakikipag-usap ng kapwa niya OFW, agad na nag-post si Marie ng paalala sa Facebook. Aniya, “Kayong mga anak ng OFW na nasa Pilipinas, bigyan niyo ring panahon na makausap ninyo ang inyong nga magulang kapag tumatawag sila sa inyo at mag reply kung nag p-pm sila sa inyo, dahil ang inyong mga  boses ay gamot sa homesickness naming magulang. Sa boses pa lang ninyo ay napapawi na ang pagod, lungkot at ano mang hirap na nararamdaman. Boses niyo pa lang lumalakas na ang aming kalooban na magtrabaho pa ng ilang taon para sa inyong kinabukasan. Sana mahalin niyo din ang inyong magulang kahit na wala sila sa inyong tabi.”

Laking pasasalamat na lamang ni Marie dahil ang kanyang nag-iisang anak ay napakaresponsableng bata. Lagi silang nag-uusap, kaya kahit malayo sila sa isa’t isa ay nararamdaman nila ang pagmamahal ng bawat isa. Si Marie ay tubong Isabela, may anak at kasalukuyang naninilbihan sa mga Briton na amo sa New Territories. – Marites Palma

Away: ang buong kuwento

Noong ilabas ng The SUN ang balita tungkol sa mga nag-rambulang Pilipino sa Central kamakailan, lumabas ang ilang detalye na wala sa mga naunang report sa ibang  media.

Sa pagmamadali kasi ng ibang kabaro namin sa industriya, isang panig lang – iyong naunang nagsumbong sa kakilalang tagapag-balita – ang lumabas sa mga naunang report, kaya ang kabilang panig lang ang binuhusan ng galit ng mga netizen. Makakita ka nga naman ng wasak ang mukha, na binugbog daw ng isang professional boxer, ano pa ang mararamdaman mo?

Pero dahil lumabas ang panig ng itinurong nambugbog – halimbawa, na isa sa kanila ay napukpok muna ng bote ng beer at pumutok ang ulo at labi, at ang itinuturong nambugbog ay hindi kasama sa kinasuhan ng pulis – nag-iba ang ihip ng opinyon.

Karamihan sa mga nagbilin ng reaksiyon sa balita sa The SUN ay, gaya ng sa nauna, galit pa rin sa isang panig at may nagbanta pang gaganti.

Pero alisin mo ang bangayan ng kakampi ng magkabilang panig sa Facebook page ng The SUN, may madidiskubre tayong mga mensahe na para sa lahat.

Gaya ni Gina Piago, na nagsabing: “Ilagay kc ang alak sa tiyan hindi sa utak.”

Sa tonong may pagtuya, sinabi ni Cristina Salinas Garcia: “antatapang tlga ng pinoy,mbuhay.

Sinag-ayunan siya ni  Samantha Ejudo Sulatra: “Tagay p more.”

Dagdag ni Anie Rivera: “Mayayabang kasi Ang mga pinoy pag lasing. Nagwowork ako sa bar sa wan chai Pero ni minsan wala pa akong nakitang mga lasing na mga Puti na nagrarambulan.”

Si Baby Jean De Leon naman ay nag-sermon: “Kayo din naman naperwesyo kong kayo nagpapahinga na laang sa kwarto niyo, at ngayon broadcast pa kayo may involved na Babae yari kayo ngayon sa asawa niyo sa pinas.”

Dagdag ni Agairdam Gnajac Reysally: “Ang alak nilalagay sa tyan hndi sa ulo. lalo na kng dayuhang manggagawa lamang tayo.”

Ipinakikita lang nito ang importansiya ng pagkuha ng buong kuwento, na walang bahid ng pagkampi kanino man. Ito ay isang tradisyon namin sa The SUN simula nang itayo ito 23 taon na ang nakararaan. 

Maniniwala ka pa ba sa iba?

Transparency and inclusiveness

For the first time in so many years, the Filipino community was not called to a meeting this year to discuss preparations for the annual Philippine Independence Day celebration.

As a result, only one Filcom organization took the lion’s share in co-organizing with the Consulate what had been bruited as a month-long celebration of the community’s biggest event of the year. And to be blunt about it, the festivities bombed.

For as long as I can remember, the annual celebration, which used to bring together as many Filcom organizations as could take part in the programme, always attracted a huge crowd.

This was true even when heavy rains threatened to ruin the whole-day merriment as what happened in 2010 when performers had to trudge through mud in Victoria Park, or earlier, when a 7-foot high backdrop collapsed onto a mercifully still empty stage in Chater Garden.

Fifteen years ago when I co-organized the event twice in one year as chair of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong, Chater was chock-full of people you could hardly see beyond the tops of their heads.

The first of these two was even held in the wake of SARS, when Hong Kong became a virtual ghost town. People, mostly Pinoys, turned out by the thousands even when there was no celebrity guest, and the entertainment was provided by various Filcom organizations which showcased the best they could offer from their region. The finale was a rousing dance number led by then Consul General Victoria Bataclan and several Filcom leaders she called on stage.

The same atmosphere of camaraderie and nationalistic fervor prevailed in so many other such celebrations up until last year.

So what could have gone wrong?

Leaders we have spoken with lamented the failure by the Consulate to skip the time-honored tradition of calling for a meeting to lay down the plans for the celebration, and open the participation to all Filcom organizations.

The PAHK, which for decades was the lead organizer for the Independence Day celebrations, was also jostled out of the picture when Air Asia was let in as the biggest sponsor of the main Chater event. That meant that PAHK and its traditional partner Philippine Airlines, had to take up the first Sunday slot because of the exclusivity provision in their sponsorship contract.

That also meant that Global Alliance, a relatively young organization which gained fame in the hit movie Sunday Beauty Queen because of its focus on organizing beauty contests, was left to coordinate preparations for all four Sundays of the celebration with the Consulate.

With related events stretched to four Sundays, and two of the Chater shows dominated by time-consuming beauty contests, it was no wonder many people chose to stay away. Add to that the fact that all but two or three Filcom groups were shut out of the celebrations and you get to see the full picture of why it was no longer the fun occasion it used to be.

There is also the touchy question of finances. The reason the PAHK had always led the celebration was as much tradition as it was transparency. As a licensed limited company the association is subjected to a strict audit, and is bound to issue a financial report to members during the annual general meeting.

In addition, its donations to charitable causes are open to scrutiny by everyone, and its choice of beneficiaries often goes through a vetting by the entire board. Its aims and objectives, including raising funds for charity, are also clearly set out in its Articles of Incorporation.

In comparison, the Consulate as a government entity, is prohibited by law from accepting private donations. When it works with organizations on projects that require the raising of funds it should also be wary lest it be seen as going around the prohibition that is rooted on a possible conflict of interest.

Associations formed by foreign domestic workers should, given the visa restrictions on the listed office bearers, also be careful about accepting money from big corporate sponsors as this could be equated with doing illegal work. This apart, there is also the question of how the money they received on behalf of the community should be accounted for.

Going against established practices is not bad in itself as it could lead to innovation, greater efficiency and new knowledge. But those who reinvent the wheel should be careful not to wreck a system that works simply because of a desire for change; or worse, create a problem when there was none.

There is strength in numbers, wisdom in consultation, and value in honoring traditions.

There is no reason to rock the boat just to make a difference.

Helper accused of indecent assault, threats on ward

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker has denied charges in Kwun Tong Court that she had indecently assaulted her nine-year-old female ward in Tseung Kwan O in March and hurt, or threatened to hurt her, on various occasions.

Chery C. Gano, who is in her 30s, pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault, two counts of common assault, and three counts of threatening to hurt the victim, who was identified only as “X”.

All the alleged assaults and threats on the victim took place between Feb 13 and Mar 5, according to the charges that were read to the defendant by an Ilocano interpreter in court. No further details of the cases were disclosed.

Gano, who is on bail, is represented by Mohammed Shah, who was appointed under the Duty Lawyers scheme.

The prosecution applied to Magistrate Bina Chainrai for a transfer of the case to the Kowloon City Court on Jul 27 for trial.

The prosecutor said the victim, who is in Primary 3, could not give evidence while she was still attending school, so the trial would have to wait until the school year is over.

Chainrai granted the application and extended Gano’s bail.

‘Costly’ birth documents hinder return of OFW mothers and children, NGO says

PathFinders provides support to vulnerable pregnant women and their children

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipino migrant women with babies born out of wedlock in Hong Kong are sometimes deterred from going home by the high cost of obtaining birth certificates at the Consulate, says PathFinders, an NGO helping pregnant women in need.

The problem has become urgent as Immigration authorities have sped up hearing asylum and torture claims in the past year.

In some cases, migrant mothers would rather see their babies become undocumented or give them up for adoption because of the prohibitive fees, a PathFinders officer said.

As a result, the NGO, which helps migrant mothers obtain proper documentation for the children before they go home, is hoping the Consulate would waive some of the fees.

Jessica Chow

“Registering babies for birth certificates in the Consulate costs only $200, but for those born out of wedlock, it costs $800 to $1,000. It’s very expensive for the mothers,” said Jessica Chow, co-director of services, social work and healthcare at PathFinders.

The additional cost is said to cover the extra documents required before an illegitimate child can be issued a birth certificate.

These include fees for amending the personal details of a mother who came to Hong Kong bearing her husband's surname, which she can't give to her child sired by another man.

Chow told The SUN in an interview on Jul 4 that there had been instances where mothers would cancel or delay their planned repatriation because they couldn't pay for their children’s documentation. Under Hong Kong law, the mothers cannot work while their claims are being processed.

When that happens, she said, the NGO would try to find partners who would shoulder the cost of documentation and repatriation of both mother and child.

The Immigration Department has been speeding up its screening of asylum and torture claims and sending back home those who fail the process, in line with the Security Bureau chief’s call last year for faster reduction of the backlog.

As of the end of March, there were 255 Filipinos among the 4,420 claimants for non-refoulement, or against being sent back home, according to Immigration data. This is nearly half the peak of 483 Filipino applicants at the end of September 2016.

Carmen Lam

Carmen Lam, director of community education and outreach at PathFinders, told The SUN that the NGO is also adjusting to the new situation.   

“We have heard a lot of recent cases… facing deportation who were being repatriated quickly. Therefore, we have further developed our Home Country Integration Programme initiatives and strengthened our partnership with our community partners in assisting our migrant mothers and children to reintegrate in their home country,” Lam said. 

Lam said that in early September, a PathFinders team will visit the Philippines to evaluate the impact of the reintegration program and see what improvements need to be made, if any.

In a meeting in May with officials from the Consulate and other community partners, PathFinders obtained key contacts in the country who could help the returning mothers and children ease their way into Philippine society.

Hundreds of OFWs left without passports as police bust loan sharking operation

Hundreds of OFWs who borrowed money from the
loan shark now face a tough time re-applying for passports

By Daisy CL Mandap

Just three years into her employment as a domestic worker in Hong Kong, Joanne M. is more than $30,000 in debt. She says she has never really gotten out of paying for the first loan she took in the Philippines to help finance her application for overseas work.

But now she has a bigger problem. Her passport which she hocked recently in exchange for a $4,000 loan is now with the police, after the elderly man she had borrowed the money from was arrested in a sting operation on Wednesday,

Jul 4.

Joanne, 32 and single, is one of hundreds of Filipino domestic workers who are now facing this dilemma, following the arrest of the 64-year-old loan shark in Tsuen Wan. The man was reportedly arrested following a tip-off, and was found in possession of three passports.

A subsequent raid of his home yielded 856 more passports belonging to either Filipino or Indonesian domestic workers, all surrendered as surety for the loans they took from him. Not reported was that he had also obtained the borrowers' employment contracts as part of the bargain.

Each borrower was charged 125 percent interest per year, which was more than double the legal rate of no more than 60%. Based on the number of passports and the maximum loan amount of $4,000 per borrower, the money lending operation was said to be worth at least $3 million.

Joanne supports the allegation, saying she borrowed $4,000 early this year out of desperation, and was made to pay $440 per month in interest alone. She had yet to pay the principal amount when the illicit operation was uncovered.

Asked why she opted to get a loan from an unlicensed money lender, Joanne readily admitted that it was because she still had an outstanding loan of $30,000 from a financing company.

She said she first took out a loan in Hong Kong to pay relatives back in the Philippines who had lent her the Php80,000 she used to fund her work application to Hong Kong.

Much of what she had borrowed the first time was not repaid, so she applied for a “reloan” which bloated her monthly amortization to such an extent that she did not have any money left for emergencies.

Thus, when she needed money badly early this year, she looked for another source, and ended up surendering her passport to the loan shark in Tsuen Wan so she could get the loan.

“Alam ko naman na mali,” she said, after being asked if she knew it was illegal for the passport to be given as security for a loan. “Pero wala na akong ibang matatakbuhan”.

At first, she thought she could just get back her passport from the police, but was told this was not likely to happen because the authorities would need to keep the documents as evidence, especially if the case goes to court.

Thus, the only option left to her is to apply for a new travel document from the Philippine Consulate, a process that has been intentionally made difficult in recent years because of the recurrent practice of migrant workers of using their passports to secure loans from unlicensed moneylenders.

Her only consolation is, her employer supports her effort to obtain a new passport, as she will need it  to process a new work contract and to travel out of Hong Kong when necessary. But as to when she could get a replacement document is still up in the air, especially with the current high demand for the new 10-year passports being issued by the Philippine government.

Joanne is also worried about her employment contract that the money lender had taken and which now appears also lost, as she had not told her employer that she also surrendered it to secure the loan.

Meanwhile, the lone suspect in the loan sharking operation is not expected to be charged in court anytime soon, as police will need to gather evidence by going over the seized documents, and look for the debtors like Joanne.

The investigation could prove tedious, as shown by a similar loan sharking operation busted by the police in March last year.

In that particular case, a local couple aided by eight Filipino “runners” including their domestic helper, reportedly gave loans totaling $10 million to more than 1,2000 Filipino domestic workers over an eight-month period, and made a profit of $2 million in the process.

All 10 suspects were arrested for “conspiracy to lend money at excessive interest rate” and “conspiracy to blackmail”, but have yet to be charged in court.

Hong Kong does have stringent laws on illegal money, lending, however. Violators face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a fine of $5 million.

Pictures of another migrant worker cleaning windows from outside go viral

The helper is pictured on a ledge outside a top-floor flat in Kornhill Gardens.
(Pictures from Rochen Monte's Facebook page)

By The SUN

The flat is said to be on the a 23rd or 24th floor

A Facebook post showing pictures of a woman, apparently a foreign domestic worker, cleaning windows from outside a high-rise flat in Quarry Bay has gone viral after being posted by a Filipina helper on Jul 6.

Rochen Monte told The SUN that she didn’t know the domestic worker personally, and was not sure if she was Filipino or Indonesian, but she would see her cleaning the outside parts of windows of a flat in block 3, Kornhill Gardens.

“Noon ko pa gustong picturan o video-han pero natatakot akong mapasama,” Monte said. “Pero kaninang umaga hindi ko na matiis na picturan po. Naaawa ako, wala akong magawa.”

Monte said the helper was cleaning from a flat on either the 23^rd or the 24^th floor of the Kornhill Gardens, but she was sure it was in block 3 as the building was directly opposite theirs.

FDH contracts have stipulated since January last year that no outside cleaning of windows by helpers is allowed.

Under the Schedule of Accommodations and Domestic Duties on page 3 of the contract, it is said: “When requiring the Helper to clean the outside of any window which is not located on the ground level or adjacent to a balcony (on which it must be reasonably safe for the Helper to work) or common corridor (“exterior window cleaning”) the exterior window cleaning must be performed under the following conditions:—
    (i) the window being cleaned is fitted with a grille which is locked or secured in a manner that prevents the grille being opened; and
    (ii) no part of the Helper’s body extends beyond the window ledge except the arms.”
In other words,employers will not be able to make domestic workers clean the outside of the windows unless the residential house is on the ground floor or next to a balcony or corridorwherein the domestic worker can stand safely. If the flat is on a higher floor, the window must belocked with a secured, possiblycrisscrossed or parallel, iron bars that allow no part of the body to be extended outside the window except the arms.

The Philippine government had pushed for the exclusion in late 2016, in the wake of a rash of incidents involving Filipino maids who were killed after falling from a height. In the latest such incident, 35-year-old Rinalyn Dulluog died after falling from a Lohas Park high rise on Aug. 9, 2016.

But despite the ban, some employers appear to continue to flout the law. In one such case, a Filipina domestic worker was pictured clinging precariously to a wall while cleaning windows from outside a Repulse Bay flat on Apr 29 last year, at the height of a super typhoon.

Fearing repercussions after her picture went viral on Facebook, the employer terminated their contract. M.R. Sta. Cruz, 37, promptly filed a case for illegal termination against her employer, and ended up settling it for more than $50,000.

According to the Mission for Migrant Workers, FDWs who are told to clean windows in violation of the provision “can politely explain to (their) employer the new clause on window cleaning for their enlightenment.” If the employers insist, they should be told that they could face consequences for violating an express provision in the employment contract.

“It might also help if you ask the authorities for advice on how to handle and make the employer abide by the contract. If the employer still insists and threatens you with termination of contract, you can file a complaint at the Labour Relations Division (LRD) of the Labour Department. LRDs have areas covered and you can find it in their website or call their hotline: 2717-1771,” said the Mission.

Alternatively, the worker can call the Mission at 2522-8264 for enquiries or assistance.

Sabadong sesyon ng fin-lit, sinimulan

Ni Marites Palma

Bumuhos man ang napakalakas na ulan noong Sabado, ika-23 ng Hunyo ay hindi pa rin natinag ang 18 kababaihan sa pagsali sa isang usaping pinansyal na isinagawa ng CARD Hong Kong Foundation.

Ang sesyon ay ang kauna-unahang financial literacy training sa Sabado na inilunsad ng Card HK

Tinanong ang mga kalahok kung  bakit sila dumalo sa pagsasanay, at ang sagot ng ilan ay dahil gusto nilang matuto na humawak ng pera dahil kinukulang daw ang kanilang sahod. Ang iba naman ay nagsabing gusto nilang malaman kung ano ang kanilang gagawin sa naipon na nilang pera.

Unang batch ng Sabado Group.

Sagot naman ni Jennifer Maro, nakatakda siyang bumalik na sa Pilipinas sa susunod na buwan at gusto niyang may matutunan na maaari niyang magamit kapag umuwi na siya.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni Maro ang sikreto kung paano siya nakapag-ipon habang nagtatrabaho sa Hong Kong.

“Kahit narito na ako sa Hong Kong ay inako pa rin ng aking asawa ang responsibilidad sa aming mga anak. Nagsumikap siya hanggang nakaipon ng pera na ipinantayo niya ng isang karinderya. Lumago ito at ngayon ay dalawa na ang aming karinderya,” sabi ni Maro.

Dahil dito ay nagkasundo ang mag-asawa na umuwi na si Maro para magkatuwang na silang mag-aasikaso sa kanilang mga kainan.

Malaki-laki na rin daw ang kanyang naipon kaya malakas na ang kanyang loob na umuwi na para maasikaso ang asawa  at mabantayan ang paglaki ng kanilang apat na anak, ayon kay Maro.

Dumating si Maro sa Hong Kong noong 1999 nang siya ay dalaga pa, at dating nagtrabaho bilang research assistant sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman. Nagdesisyon siyang pumasok na kasambahay dahil daw hindi na kayang tustusan ng kanyang mga magulang ang pag-aaral ng mga nakababata niyang mga kapatid. Inako ni Maro ang pagpaaral sa kanila, at nakapagpatayo pa siya ng bahay.

Maganda ang naging talakayan ng grupo mula simula hanggang matapos ang sesyon. Sa tuwa ng mga dumalo sa kanilang natutunan ay nagsabi sila na hihikayatin ang kanilang mga kaibigan na sumali din sa mga susunod na pagsasanay.

Ang susunod na sesyong pang Sabado ay sa ika-22 ng Hulyo. Para makasali o kumuha ng karagdagang impormasyon, mag “like” lang sa Facebook page ng CARD HONG KONG FOUNDATION, o tumawag sa numerong 9529 6392, 5423 8196, o 9606 6810.

Taekwondo group inducts officers

The new officers of the United Philippines Taekwondo Organization-Hong Kong (UPTO-HK), took their oath before Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza at the Consulate on Jun 3.

Leading the group were President Wilma Colobong (extreme right) and board members Mercy D. Permales and Federico C. Jacinto (flanking Atienza).

The group, which was founded in June 2012, has more than 80 active members attending training every Sunday in three locations: Sheung Wan Sports Centre and Sun Yat Sen Sports Centre on Hong Kong Island, and Tung Chung Sports Centre on Lantau Island.

The group’s examiner and trainer is Grandmaster Lai Tze-Hong, 7th Dan Black Belt, who holds an international instructors certificate issued by Kukkiwon, also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, in Seoul, South Korea.

The officers and members of the United Philippines Taekwondo Organization-Hong Kong are joined by Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza at the Consulate after the induction rites.

OFWs told to save and plan for future

By Daisy CL Mandap

A total of 127 migrant workers received certificates at the Bayanihan Centre on Jun 24 for completing various training courses offered for free by the United Migrant Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Association (Umela) Hong Kong.

Special guest, Consul General Antonio A. Morales, lauded the graduates and their trainors for making the decision to spend their day off learning new skills and planning for their future.

“Sana ay ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong pag-aaral ng bagong kaalaman at samantalahin ang magandang pagkakataon na ito para pagplanuhin ang inyong pag-uwi,” said ConGen Morales in his speech.

Trainees sing their graduation song.

To drive home his message, Morales related that he had just visited a migrant worker who had overstayed her visa for 18 years. He said this often happened when a migrant worker gets enmeshed in debt because of the incessant demand of family members for financial help.

“Save,” he advised. “Huwag nating ipapadala lahat ng suweldo natin.”

 Later, he offered the use of the Consulate’s facilities for some of Umela’s training sessions after learning that these were all done in open air, rain or shine, across the High Court building in Admiralty.

He suggested to the group to set a schedule for when they might need a room for their training, and book the dates beforehand with the officer in charge at the Consulate.

A total of 85 graduates came from seven batches of massage therapy training, and the rest completed courses in balloon making, ice cream making and stocking flower making. All, save one, are women.

A surprise part of the program was the naming of awardees for each batch. For batch 23, Benita Dianne D. Ballena received the best in clinical award. For all the remaining batches an outstanding student was named: for Batch 24, Agnes S. Almoguera; Batch 25,  Charity Palma; Batch 26, Joy Salvador; Batch 27: Josephine Agcaoili; Batch 28: Jane D. Lim, and Batch 29: Michie Ann P. Cerezo

Each graduate completed six months of basic training on anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pathology, after which they had to do 72 hours of hands-on training.

After graduation, the trainees can apply to be tested or assessed so they could qualify for a national certificate of competency from Tesda (Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority) in the Philippines.

Umela is headed by its founder and president, Ofelia Baquirin. The group has two other governing bodies: the Board of Directors headed by Opalyn Albidas, and the Student Body led by Maria Ellen Lupera.

Albidas, acting as the group’s officer-in-charge while Baquirin is on extended leave, announced plans to include the teaching of shiatsu massage on top of the Swedish technique currently being taught to Umela students.

She also said that Umela conducts two batches of training every six months, with more than 100 graduates each time.

The Umela Board also announced the completion of the roof for a mini gym at the Hermogenes Bautista Elementary School in Mindoro which they helped fund with donation from members.

Google recipes, then improve on them

By Rodelia Villar

With the advent of technology, there is almost no excuse for not knowing how to cook.
Whatever food stuff you have in your refrigerator could be turned into something edible, if not wonderful, by simply using Google search. Try searching for that favorite dish that  you want to cook, or putting in a key ingredient, and see how many ways there are of turning it into a delectable concoction.
An alternative is to join Facebook pages where dishes are shared, such as the Domestic Workers Corner (It’s All About Food), and simply post a question on what you want to cook. Members of the group can even be consulted on what you can whip up with the  limited budget given you by your employer.
The DWC group is administered by a pool of talented cooks like Gloria Prudencio, who often amazes members on her versatility on just about any aspect of cooking – from preparation to plating food for her employers.
Prudencio’s secret is her willingness to try new ways of cooking dishes, and to do this, she uses the internet. She either uses the recipe provided on Google search, or vary it slightly, before preparing and presenting the dish in her unique and creative style.
With help from Google, YouTube or Facebook, there is no limit to what she, or anybody, can come up with.
Here are some of the recipes Prudencio has put together from her online searches:

Beef and Brocolli Stir-fry
(https://www. weightwatchers.com/us/recipe/beef-and-broccoli-stir-fry-1/5626a625f79cf9120df3a7fb)

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tbsp cornstarch, divided in two
1/4 tsp table salt
3/4 pound uncooked lean trimmed sirloin beef, thinly sliced against the grain
2 tsp canola oil
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
5 cups uncooked broccoli, florets (about a 12 oz bag)
1 tbsp fresh ginger root, minced
2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 cup(s) water
1/4 cup(s) low sodium soy sauce
1 cup beef broth

Preparation:
1) On a plate, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch and salt; add beef and toss to coat.
2) Heat oil in a large nonstick wok or large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and stir-fry until lightly browned and cooked through (about 4 minutes), then transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
3) Add 1/2 cup broth to same pan; stir to loosen any bits of food on the pan’s bottom.
4) Add broccoli; cover and cook, tossing occasionally and sprinkling with a tablespoon water if needed, until broccoli is almost crisp-tender (about 3 minutes).
5) Uncover pan and add ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes; stir-fry until fragrant, (about 1 minute).
6) In a cup, stir together water, soy sauce, remaining 1/2 cup broth and remaining 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch until blended; stir into pan.
7) Reduce heat to medium-low and bring to a simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly (about 1 minute).
8) Return beef and accumulated juices to the pan; toss to coat. Serve.
(Yields about 1 1/4 cups per serving)

Yong Tau Foo
(https://kwgls.wordpress.com/2015/06/11/hakka-yong-tau-foo-¢[¶[n‘FŒPÿ/)

Filling ingredients:
400 grams minced pork
400 grams fish meat
3 pcs shitake mushrooms, soaked and cut into small pieces
2-3 sprigs of coriander or spring onion
1/2 of a small bitter gourd (ampalaya), cut in 1-cm thickness and with seeds removed
5 pcs red chilli without the seeds
5 pcs green chilli, without seeds
5 pcs ladies finger (okra), without seeds
5 pcs tofu puff, cut into half
1 small eggplant, cut into 2 cm thickness and divided into half
10-20 grams of salted fish
1 tbsp castor sugar
1 tbsp corn starch
pinch of salt
dash of white pepper
vegetables of your choice

Gravy ingredients
1 ½ tbsp fermented black beans
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsps oyster sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp corn starch diluted in 2 tbsp water
1 -1 1/2 cups of water

(All quantities above is for reference and actual amount will depend on your family’s size and preferences).

Procedure:
1) Blend all the filling ingredients until fine, using a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, you can also use a knife to chop until fine.
2) Using a spoon or a knife, take some of the filling and stuff into each of the vegetable’s cavity. Make sure the fillings are full and firm.
3) In a pot of hot oil, deep fry the vegetable until they are slightly soft and the meat is cooked. Drain and set aside.
Note: It is advisable that your deep frying be done in stages according to each type of vegetable. Different vegetables have different cooking times. From the longest to shortest cooking time: bean curd (tokwa), bitter gourd, egg plant, chilli and ladies finger. Because of the braising that will be done later, the meat is considered cooked after about 3-4 minutes.
4) In a pot or a wok, pour about 2 tbsp of cooking oil, then sauté garlic until fragrant.
5) Add the fermented black beans, then pour in enough water to cover the Yong Tau Foo (start with 1 cup, then gradually add).
6) Add oyster sauce and sugar, then bring to boil.
7) Add the deep fried Yong Tau Foo, then let simmer for about 10 minutes.
8) Transfer the braised Yong Tau Foo to a serving plate.
9) Add corn starch solution to the gravy, and when the sauce thickens and becomes transparent, turn off heat.
10) Drizzle gravy on top of  the Yong Tau Foo before serving

Fried Pompano
Ingredients: 
1 pc pompano (about 2 lb), clean and gutted
1 pc lemon, cut in half
½ tbsp. kosher salt
1½ cup canola oil

Preparation:
1) Make diagonal cuts on both side of pompano, then squeeze lemon juice on both sides of the fish
2) Sprinkle salt all over the fish. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes.
3) Heat the canola oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot, fry the fish on each side until it is golden brown or turns crispy (about 8 minutes).
4) Remove fish from the pan, then put on a dish with paper towel on top to soak in the oil.
5) Serve with your favorite dip.

DH in handbag theft case chooses trial over settlement

A longer court battle looms for a Filipina domestic worker who had been falsely accused by her Hong Kong employer of stealing two discarded handbags when she insisted on claiming damages totaling nearly $29,000 from the latter.

Rosana Rañola and bank executive Lam Ah Wai Ammy failed to reach agreement before Labour Tribunal officer David Chum on Jun 20, so the case will have to go to trial.

The case will be heard again on Sept 17. 

Chum spent most of the court’s morning session reviewing both parties’ cases and trying to convince them to settle.

Hopes of a breakthrough emerged when Lam agreed to pay Rañola one month’s wage in lieu of notice, one of two issues remaining in their stand-off.

But the deal got stuck again when Rañola insisted on claiming $28,908 in damages for loss of income and breach of trust and confidence after Lam accused her of theft on Oct 4 last year.

The Filipina complained that her former employer did not want to pay for her expenses while her police case was pending, and she was not allowed to work.

“It is not her fault that you had to face a criminal case. It should be the police and the Department of Justice that you ask to pay because they filed a case against you,” Chum said.

Chum said that while the helper can ask for a higher amount, her claim is difficult to prove. He warned that the maid could lose everything after trial, and still be made to pay for court costs.

But the stalemate continued even after Chum called for a break.

When they returned, Chum instructed both parties to prepare their evidence for the trial. He also told Rañola to write a statement about her case against Lam. – Vir B. Lumicao

Pinoy in upskirt video case to appeal

A Filipino domestic worker who was found guilty in January of taking an upskirt video of a local woman in a Kowloon Bay mall one and half years ago has applied for leave at the High Court to appeal his conviction.

Nelson San Juan, 29, who is out on bail pending appeal, appeared on his own on Jun 15 before Judge Verina Bokhary after failing to secure Legal Aid.

The judge, noting that San Juan had failed to include any documentary evidence in his appeal file, told the respondent prosecutor to confer with the applicant on his grounds for appeal.

Bokhary extended San Juan’s bail until further notice.

The worker was sentenced on Jan 4 by Kwun Tong Magistrate Chu Chung-keung to three weeks in jail after finding him guilty of the charge of “committing an act outraging public decency” for taking an upskirt video of an unnamed woman.

The magistrate relied on the testimony of a police officer who tailed San Juan in Megabox in Kowloon Bay on Dec 21, 2016, after seeing him suspiciously following the woman up two flights of escalators in the mall.

San Juan cited as one of his grounds for appeal the magistrate’s alleged “misunderstanding of evidence that resulted in an error in judgment”.

Filipina helpless as ex-employer keeps her passports

By Vir B. Lumicao

Charibel Caban gave up more than half of her over $8,000 claim against her former employer at the Labour Tribunal on Jun 20, as she has found an employer who is willing to hire her.

But the settlement agreement the domestic worker had reached with her former employer Lee Wai has not ended her torment, as the mainland woman does not want to give back the Filipina’s old and current passports.

“The tribunal has no jurisdiction over police matters,” Presiding Officer Daniel Tang told the claimant when she brought up the issue about the passports after the settlement.        “What you should do is go to the police and make a report because in Hong Kong it is against the law to keep the personal documents of another person,” he said.

Caban had gone to the Tribunal to claim $8,250 from Lee for one month’s wage in lieu of notice, payment for seven days of annual leave, arrears in wages for seven days, air ticket and $100 travel and food allowance. 

In a counterclaim, Lee also sought payment of wage in lieu of notice from Caban, saying the helper left her flat in Taiwai, Shatin, on her own after an argument on Mar 29. The employer would not budge on the wage in lieu item.

Sensing that the two parties were not ready to settle, the presiding officer warned the case would go to trial and both sides would have to wait another three months if they did not settle on that day. 

The prospect of a prolonged litigation drove Caban to drop her wages in lieu claim, while Lee withdrew her counterclaim. The maid settled for a total of $3,940 as payment for her annual leave, arrears in wages, air ticket, and travel and food allowance.

Caban said she was hired by Lee in August 2014 and finished her first contract with her. She went home on Aug 8, 2016 and waited in her hometown Tuguegarao, Cagayan, for nearly seven months as Lee could not decide whether to rehire her.

Lee eventually told her to come back and the helper returned on Mar 14, 2017. When she left the employer’s flat on Mar 29 this year, Lee refused to return her passports.

  Caban said she had gone twice to the Shatin Police to report the problem about her passports but the officers did not act on her complaint.

She also asked the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate for help but was issued a one-way travel document and told to apply for a new passport back home.

Caban applied for an extension of her visa on Jun 25, but was given only two days to remain in Hong Kong.

Filipina DHs awe cricket vets in newfound sport

By Vir B. Lumicao

In the past, whenever somebody would ask me if Filipinos played cricket, I had a ready answer: “No, we don’t play cricket. We fry and eat it.” Although said in jest, the reply usually left the person queasy or dumbfounded.

The Divas trained for a year before being unleashed in their first tournament.

Now, that joke is passè, as the sport so popular in the former British Empire has become a new domain for a bunch of Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong.

On Jun 22, SCC Divas, the first-ever cricket team comprising 26 full-blooded Filipinos, stepped on to the stage to receive their trophy as champions in the Development Division of Cricket Hong Kong Women’s League for the 2017-2018 season.

Led by its captain Josie Arimas, the team shocked and awed its veteran, big-name opponents on its debut in the sport by sweeping all its eight matches for the season.

“Grabe! Speechless ako. I can’t believe we are the champions!” said the pretty, soft-spoken Arimas after the Divas crushed Craigengower Cricket Club in the final game at the Po Kong Village Road field in Tsz Wan Shan on Jun 3.

SCC Divas owes its founding to Arimas, who invaded the cricket world by trying out one Friday evening for the Hong Kong Cricket Club women’s team, Willow Wielders. Her throwing, catching and bowling impressed the coach and his players that they took her in.   

The 42-year-old Arimas began playing softball in Grade 3, competing in district games. She was drafted to the RP Blu Girls national softball team in high school and was a varsity softball player at University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and University of Mindanao, as well as Palarong Pambansa baseball player.

Like hundreds of thousands of Filipinas working around the world, Arimas came to Hong Kong nine years ago as a domestic helper. Here she played for the all-domestic worker softball team Fate and the baseball squads Philippine Sluggers and Buffaloes.

Her joining the HKCC women’s team opened the gate of cricket to other Filipina players.

“One Saturday afternoon at HKCC, after watching men’s cricket, I met two umpires, including Animesh Kulkarni. We chatted about cricket,” she said. It was Apr 22, 2017.

 “Sabi ko kay Animesh, may mga baseball colleagues ako na may ability sa batting, throwing and catching pero di pa na-try ang cricket. Keen si Animesh. Sabi niya, ‘Kung intersado kayong mag-join sa cricket, willing akong mag-sponsor’,” Arimas recalled.

She began enticing her baseball teammates and sent out word to old players in baseball, softball and volleyball about forming a cricket team. “Kahit walang experience sa sports, pag gusto sumali tinatanggap ko for training. Hanggang sa nakabuo ako ng 30 players,” she said. Divas now has 26 players, as four have quit due to job and other reasons.

Ricky Waite, head coach of the HK national cricket team, briefs the Divas before a game.

The Divas began training in June 2017 but waited almost a year before they could debut. That moment came on May 6 and they marked it with a default win against absentee Lantau Team and by devastating veterans Craigengower Cricket Club with 122 in 3 overs against 37/8 for CCC. 

The players are no pushovers. They are veterans in baseball or softball, or both.

Arimas’ key players are Zenny Badajos, who played for Hong Kong teams Fate (softball) and Philippine Sluggers (baseball); Jennifer Alumbro from Buffaloes (Hong Kong baseball) who played volleyball and softball back home; Jona Eguid from Sluggers who played softball in the Philippines; and Ma. Eva Mendez, Liezel Algonez, and Romela Osabel, who played for Sluggers and Fate.

Badajos, Mendez, Alumbro, Algonez and Eguid were varsity players in their university days. Badajos played for University of the Philippines Diliman and was on the National Team before coming to Hong Kong where he joined Fate and coached Fate B.

Mendez, the most senior of the players, was a varsity player of University of Mindanao-Davao and a National Team player who was Arimas’ mentor, trainer and coach in baseball. 

The rest of the Divas are Sluggers veterans Ely Quimpo, Lolita Olaguer, Mary Grace Pocdas, Virgie Domingues, Anafe dela Cruz Regis, Melinda Rodrigues, Editha Hidalgo, Rosaly Pagarigan, Leslie Bautista, Emilie Mabaquiao, and team founder and president Cecil Elleran, also known as the poet Cecil Calsas.

They are beefed up by Buffaloes stars Marivic de Guia, Jackie Lou Torate and Cherry Octaviano, who played for Fate along with Ma Luz Barcelona and Manelyn de la Cruz.

The volleyball players on the team are Marilyn Sebio and Mary Grace Andres.

Arimas said most of the players came from the Visayas, particularly Negros Occidental and Iloilo, where softball has a strong foundation starting from the primary schools.

Back in the Hong Kong cricket circuit, the SCC Divas will move up to the T20 League next season, which begins in September. The promotion was announced by Hong Kong head coach Richard Waite at the Jun 22 awarding ceremonies. Arimas said the Divas will face stronger, veteran teams, but she is confident her girls will be up to the challenge.

“Alam ko malalakas ang mga team sa main league kasi halos naglaro sa national team. Magagaling sila pero lalaban kami… Meron team ang Hong Kong women na naglaro sa national team so sila ang makakalaban namin sa T20,” Arimas said.

Love and respect for elders

By Dawn Yu Aquino

As a precocious child straddling two cultures in the Philippines, the concept of filial piety took root at a very tender age, planted with care by my Chinese father and Filipina mother, by relatives and well-meaning friends, by media, the school, state, Church and every other person I crossed paths with.

It’s a concept and societal norm most Asians grow up and live with, yet some struggle to grasp its significance. Others debate its value and a few disown it altogether. For me, it is like a second skin, as natural as breathing, as important as eating, as essential as drinking.

My earliest memories of filial piety were about food. As a family who loves to cook and eat, mealtimes were (and still are) sacred. My mother would serve all of Papa’s favorite dishes, and while they offered us kids the choicest bits, we always declined, offering them back to our parents, who of course also declined, thereby leaving us with that coveted drumstick or mouth-watering piece of beef tendon. Why the merry-go-round when in the end, the kids get to eat the favored parts anyway? To teach us to always offer something — whether our service, time, or the premium portion — to our elders. To instill the value of deference, to show that we respect what they like and, as we leave our childhood behind, we watch as the elders graciously learn to accept our offerings. We then play the same merry-go-round with our own children.

The way my Papa treated his mother and his childhood nanny (my Amah and Apo, respectively) were perhaps the greatest examples of filial piety I encountered as a child.

His attitude certainly made a deep and lasting impression. He was the fifth among six siblings, one of three boys, and the preferred charge of Apo, who spoiled him and taught my mother all her secret recipes for his childhood favorites. These dishes were prepared with immense natural talent and love by an illiterate person, and the precious recipes have since been passed on to me, painstakingly written down by my mother from observation and memory. Apo joined my Amah’s household as a young girl, and typical of the heart-breaking separation stories of that time, she has no recollection whatsoever of her own family, her date of birth or real name, and my Amah’s family became her own.

As Amah grew older and more intractable, Papa’s patience in dealing with her increased by leaps and bounds. He would go through traffic to pick her and Apo up from the unsavory area around the pier because she preferred to travel by sea. He, along with his siblings, would take her out to eat at least once a week, and listen to her stories while indulging her love of mahjong and smoking. He brought me with him when travelling with her to Hong Kong, because she was stubborn and impatient and would suddenly walk off and veer away from everyone, and he needed someone quick and spry to catch up to her. Eventually I was tasked to be her chaperone, and despite my poor grasp of Hokkien, we managed to enjoy ourselves and I managed to bring her home safe and sound.

Papa took care not only of Amah’s needs but Apo’s as well, taking her to see the doctor, checking up on her, keeping her company and arranging her funeral when she eventually passed away. Her ashes are in my family’s columbarium space, because in that way she will always be remembered, visited and honored, a cherished part of our clan. She never married and treated us all like her own grandchildren.

Today Papa is the ripe old age of 75, strong in bearing but slow in walking, hard of hearing yet still mentally sharp. He pushes his arthritic older brother’s heavy wheelchair whenever they eat out at the mall, despite his own decreased pace and energy level.

These everyday examples of deep-seated love and respect for elders is something I witnessed and experienced firsthand, and it is second nature for me to take older people’s hands and place them on my temple as a sign of greeting, to acknowledge parents of friends old or new, to offer the best and most comfortable seats to the elderly, whether strangers or not; to help open doors, carry packages, support the wobbly senior crossing the street or getting in and out of a bus.

For my husband and I, supporting and caring for our parents and elderly relatives as they age, whether physically, financially or emotionally, is a non-negotiable, “no arguments please” fact of life. We will do it gladly, openly and generously, as they have done for their family members before them.

My kids, however, are growing up in twenty-first century Hong Kong, a bustling, pressure-cooker metropolis, which, like most cities in this day and age, is beset with modern-day ills. Without their grandparents or elderly relatives constantly surrounding them, I know as parents we have to double up our efforts and impress in them how crucial this virtue is, as a way of maintaining harmony and balance in society, as the transformative power that smoothens out the rough edges of family life, and to complete the circle of give and take. I strongly believe that an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration prevents many a family’s contentious debates.

When my modern-day kids do simple things such as follow their grandparents around to make sure they don’t lose their balance and fall, hold their arms as they cross the street or climb the stairs, offer them something to drink, get their meals at a buffet line, give them priority seating, listen to their stories, no matter how boring or bizarre; when they show respect for elderly strangers, or tell us how they will care for us when they reach adulthood, I know we have taught them well. When my young son carefully and lovingly placed a basket of flowers at the gravesite of my Amah, someone he never met, and deferentially bowed his head, sitting patiently under the scorching sun while the adults said their prayers, I know there is hope yet. Hope that filial piety, this bedrock of society, this seemingly alien concept for a lot of youngsters nowadays, will eventually become second skin—as natural as breathing, as important as eating, as essential as drinking.

---

Note: This essay won the top prize in the Open Section (English Division) of the “Love is All Around” the first Chinese and English writing contest sponsored by the Hong Kong Federation of Journalists. It was written by Dawn Yu-Aquino, who holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, based on her bi-cultural upbringing as a Filipino Chinese.the topic of filial piety.

HK avoids slide to Tier 3 in human trafficking report

By Vir B. Lumicao

For the third consecutive year, the US State Department has kept Hong Kong on its Tier 2 watch list on human trafficking, and avoided being automatically downgraded to Tier 3 because the government has devoted resources to a plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards.

In contrast, the US State Department “Trafficking in Persons Report 2018”, released on Jun 28, kept its Tier 1 rating for the Philippines for the third year, saying its government had fully met the standards and taken serious and sustained efforts to root out the problem.

The report cited  Philippine authorities’ efforts “in convicting and punishing more traffickers; effectively coordinating identification, referral, and provision of services to more victims; increasing efforts to prevent trafficking of Filipino migrant workers and to assist those who become victims overseas; and implementing procedures to reduce the backlog of trafficking cases in the courts.”

Cover of the report, which is available on the internet.

The Tier 2 grade puts Hong Kong on the same ranking as Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan and South Africa.  Tier 1 is for countries that perform best. 

The Hong Kong government immediately rejected the report, released on Jun 28, calling it “unfair” and “contains criticism not founded on facts and allegations not supported by evidence”.

A spokesman said on Jun 29 the US State Department’s continued disregard of its “determined, persistent and reinforced efforts in combating TIP (trafficking in persons) is most deplorable and unacceptable”.

“TIP is a heinous crime that has never been tolerated in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s long and well-established legal framework, stringent enforcement actions by our professional and highly effective law enforcement agencies, independent judicial system, respect for the rule of law in society, as well as our clean and efficient government have placed us on a solid footing to combat TIP.

“We have all along maintained close liaison with foreign consulates, the local civil society and international counterparts to fight against the crime,” the spokesman added.

Human rights lawyer Patricia Ho, a partner of Daly, Ho and Associates, slammed the Hong Kong government’s claims that it is doing enough against human trafficking.

“The government’s exercise in smoke and mirrors cannot fool the international community who are serious about combating trafficking into believing that they mean business,” Ho said in a statement.

The government has told Legislative Council it does not think human trafficking happens in Hong Kong or that it is an issue to which anyone should pay attention, Ho said. 

“When NGOs tell them on a general level that tens of thousands of victims are in our jurisdiction, they deny that.  When lawyers and social workers bring victims to the authorities for help, they do nothing to assist them,” she said.

The TIP report said,“The Hong Kong government demonstrated significant efforts during the reporting period by releasing an action plan to combat trafficking and enhance protections for foreign domestic workers; establishing a central steering committee to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts,” .

It also cited Hong Kong’s passing of legislation that strengthened the penalties against employment agencies that violate certain labor provisions; increasing the number of investigations for sex trafficking-related offenses; and training a large number of front-line officers on victim identification and investigative methods.

But it said the government reported fewer convictions for sex trafficking-related offenses and issued sentences that were insufficiently stringent for the seriousness of the crime.

The TIP Report urged Hong Kong to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law that criminalizes all forms of trafficking, including sex trafficking and forced labor without trans-border movatioement, according to definitions set forth in the 2000 United Nations TIP Protocol.

Hong Kong should also increase efforts to proactively identify sex and labor trafficking victims among vulnerable populations – such as mainlanders and migrant domestic workers, and women and child prostitutes – and refer them to protection services.

The government reported investigating nine potential cases of labor trafficking and 37 potential cases of sex trafficking in 2017, compared with 19 in 2016. It did not report the number of sex trafficking prosecutions in 2017, but said it completed 14 prosecutions and obtained 12 convictions for offenses related to sex trafficking (28 convictions in 2016).

The US Trafficking Victims Protection Act stipulates that any jurisdiction ranked Tier 2 for three years in a row will be automatically downgraded in the third year. 

Boy Abunda, nagbahagi ng buhay-LGBT

Ni Emz Frial

“I am Boy Abunda,  I believe in God. I deeply love my mother,  she was the center of my universe. And I am proud to be a gay”.

Ito ang mga salitang binitawan ng kilalang TV  host na si Boy Abunda nang maging panauhing pandangal siya sa isang talakayan tungkol sa usaping LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) na ginanap sa Konsulado noong ika-17 ng Hunyo.

Tinatanggap ni Boy Abunda ang certificate mula kay Consul Paul Saret bilang pasasalamat ng Konsulado.

Bilang pagpapakilala sa sarili, sinabi ni Abunda na isa siyang ordinaryong batang lalaki na may pangarap, kahit hindi niya matukoy talaga kung ano iyon.

Ang pangarap daw ng kanyang ina ay maging accountant siya, samantalang abugado naman ang gusto ng kanyang ama para sa kanya dahil daw madaldal siya. Parehong hindi natupad ang kanilang mga mithiin na ito dahil naging talk show host siya.

Habang siya ay lumalaki ay sinubukan daw niyang maging tunay na lalaki. Nagtangka pa siyang mag basketball at magkunwari na nagkagusto sa isang babae pero hindi siya nagtagumpay.

Lumaki siyang hirap sa buhay, at maraming pagsubok ang dinaanan niya bago narating ang kanyang kinalalagyan ngayon. Naranasan niyang tumira sa Luneta at magtinda ng shampoo at fire extinguisher bago namasukan sa isang restaurant.

Noong una, mismong mga kaibigan niya ay hindi makapaniwala na magiging talk show host siya dahil isa siyang Waray, hindi kagandahan, at dahil siya ay bakla. Ngunit hindi siya pumayag na maging hadlang ang mga ito upang matupad ang kanyang mga pangarap at mapatunayan na mali sila.

Katunayan, siya ngayon ay kinikilalang “King of Talk Show in the Philippine Television”.

Lagi daw niyang inaaalala ang sinabi dati ng nanay niya sa kanya: “Before the contest begins,  you are already the winner”.

Ang mga katagang iyon daw ang nagbigay ng lakas ng loob sa kanya para hindi bitawan ang kanyang mga pangarap.

“No one can define who you are. The only person who can define you is you”,” payo niya sa mga nakinig sa kanyang pagsasalita.

Sinabi din niya na huwag matakot ang mga kasapi sa komunidad ng LGBT na ipakita ang tunay nilang pagkatao.

Aniya, marami ang naduduwag na ipagmalaki kung ano sila dahil natatakot sila na baka hindi sila tanggapin sa lipunan, o maging biktima ng diskriminasyon.

“Just be who you are and people will respect you,” payo niya.

Sa kanyang maiksing talumpati, sinabi naman ni Consul General Antonio Morales na ang mga LGBT ay mga “normal na tao, at dapat ituring na tao. Ginawa sila ng Panginoon na kakaiba,” aniya.

Nagpaalala din siya na ang Konsulado laging handang tumulong sa mga LGBT.

Pagkatapos ng pagsasalita ni Abunda ay nagkaroon ng ilang tanungan. Tanong ni James, “If given a chance to marry someone of the same sex, will you marry?” Sinagot naman ito ni Abunda ng, “I will fight to the very end the right to marry. I will fight for marriage equality.”

Ang tanong naman ni Sol, “Nasaan na ang LGBT sa kanilang pakikipag-laban? Sagot ni Abunda, “Wala kaming Gabriela pero darating kami doon.”

Ang kay MJ, “What would I do to make my Nanay proud?” Muli, sinagot ito ni Abunda ng, “Just be yourself”.

Rise in cases involving ‘fake’ bank drafts noted

By Vir B. Lumicao

A surge has been noted in the number of cases involving Filipino tourists presenting bank instruments suspected to be fake.

A Consulate officer says there seems to be a resurgence of money scams by people claiming access to Marcos-era hidden wealth in the form of bank instruments and looking for investors willing to exchange these for cash in Hong Kong.

Three such cases are now pending in the District Court.

A fourth case was filed on Jun 28 against three Filipino tourists who had apparently hoped to make US$5 billion in Hong Kong. They were charged with  “using false instruments” in Eastern Court following their arrest three days earlier for allegedly presenting a forged bank draft at HSBC.

Defendants Elmer P. Soliman, aged 57; Eric Jude P. Soliman, 31, and Eliseo L. Martinez, 46, appeared for the first time in court for the reading of the amended charge following two days of investigation that included a police raid on their hotel rooms in Tsimshatsui.

The Solimans, who claimed to be a secretary and an engineer, respectively, applied to post bails of $1,600 and $1,800, but Magistrate Peter Law heeded the prosecution’s objection and rejected their application. Martinez, said to be a lawyer, did not apply for bail.

The prosecutor said the three arrived in Hong Kong on Jun 24 as visitors and were allowed to stay until Jul 8. They lodged at Kimberley Hotel in Tsimshatsui.

On Jun 25, the three, along with two other unidentified persons, reportedly went to Room 32 in the HSBC main office on 1 Queens Road Central.

HSBC main office.

There, the older Soliman talked to a female staff and opened a bank account, the prosecutor said. When the staff asked for his deposit, Soliman presented a government bank draft for US$5 billion that was handed over to him by Martinez.

Upon inspection of the instrument, the staff noticed it was forged and alerted police. The three defendants as well as their two companions were arrested.

The prosecution said a follow-up raid at the trio’s hotel room on the same day yielded a briefcase containing a purported letter of confirmation from an HSBC executive that said the US$5 billion bank draft was genuine.

An additional charge could be filed against Soliman after investigators have completed examining other documents found in the briefcase, the prosecutor said.

Martinez, who claimed he merely tagged along to help his friend, Elmer Soliman, with the transaction, twice made gestures during the hearing by raising his hands and tapping his left chest with his right palm.

A source not related to the case said the gestures were a form of secret communication among Freemasons.

Magistrate Law adjourned the hearing until Aug 9 pending a police review of the bank CCTV footage and examination of the seized documents.

He told the defendants the prosecution had opposed granting them bail because of the serious nature of the offense, their lack of local ties and permanent addresses in Hong Kong. But they could apply for bail at the High Court, he said.

Earlier, an elderly Filipino tourist who allegedly presented a 35-year-old deposit slip for US$943 billion to HSBC to update his account will have his case heard in District Court in Wanchai starting July.

Prosecutors said this when Brudencio J. Bolanos, who is in his 60s, appeared at Eastern Court on Jun 26, charged with using a false instrument.

In an amended charge read out in court, the prosecution said that on Apr 9, Bolanos used  a deposit slip for US$943 billion purportedly issued by HSBC on Jul 25, 1983, which he presented to a bank staff.

The charge said the defendant used the instrument with the intention to convince the bank staff, May Yuk-sheng, that it was genuine. If the staff did believe the deposit slip was genuine, other people would have been put at risk, the charge said.

The prosecutor said the case records would be transferred to the District Court, where serious crimes are normally heard.

Magistrate Peter Law instructed Bolanos to prepare his evidence and call witnesses, if any.

The accused was remanded in custody as he had not applied for bail.

Gulanit na pantulog, paborito pa rin

Maraming bagong pantulog na damit ang among  lalaki ni Nadine, ngunit mas gusto pa rin nito yung isang luma at punit-punit na. Maraming beses na niyang sinabi sa amo na kailangan nang palitan ito dahil manipis na ang tela dahil sa kalumaan, ngunit laging ang sagot nito ay, “This is my favorite because it’s very soft so don’t throw away.”

Dahil  hindi na masulsi ng kamay ay iminungkahi ni Nadine sa amo na dalhin na lang ang pantulog sa patahian, at pumayag naman ito. Ngunit pagbigay niya sa mananahi ay agad nitong sinabi ang, “Pangyaw, these clothes are out of service,” sabay dagdag na sabihan niya ang amo na bumili na lang ng bago.

Natatawa na tinawagan ni Nadine ang amo at ipinakausap sa mananahi dahil hindi ito nakikinig sa kanya. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay sinabi ng mananahi na “ok” at alam na daw ng amo niya na hindi na puwedeng tahiin ang gulanit na pantulog.

Pero kinagabihan, pagdating ng amo ay ang luma pa rin na pantulog ang hinanap. Sinabi nito kay Nadine na hayaan na lang niya na puni-punit ito dahil sa gabi lang naman niya gagamitin.

Walang nagawa si Nadine kundi sumunod. Mabuti na lang at hindi naman malaswang tingnan ang damit dahil ang punit at butas ng pantulog ay nasa bandang likod.

Si Nadine, 37 taong gulang at dalaga, tubong Zambales. Nasa pangalawang kontrata na siya sa mag-asawang Intsik na taga Kennedy Town. – Ellen Asis