Maswerte ka ba sa Agosto?

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Namnamin ang magagandang bagay sa pang araw-araw na buhay dahil diyan nagmumula ang kaligayahan. Sa trabaho, pakiramdam mo ay para kang gumagapang sa hirap, pero ang totoo, tuloy-tuloy ang iyong pag-asenso. Huwag gaanong pahirapan ang sarili sa paghahanda sa kinabukasan, lasapin ang mga benepisyong tinatamasa ngayon. Nabibigatan ka sa iyong responsibilidad at laging inaalala ang nagawang pagkakamali; huwag nang sisihin ang sarili at piliting maging masaya. Lucky numbers: 17, 25, 31 at 40.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Matutukso kang pumasok sa magulong relasyon, mag-ingat at baka mabigo ka lang. Maswerte sa materyal na bagay dahil kakapal ang laman ng pitaka. Huwag nang magreklamo sa bagay na matagal  nang tinitiis dahil lalo lang bibigat ang pasanin; kumilos upang makaahon. May magandang pagkakataong darating, paghandaan ito at huwag nang malungkot. May matatamong tagumpay sa trabaho.  Lucky numbers: 11, 28, 32 at 41.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Susuwertehin ka sa iba’t ibang bagay at dadami ang iyong kakilala. Sa pag-ibig, dagdagan ang tiwala, sa halip na magselos at magduda. Makakaramdam ng pamimigat ng mga binti. Humingi ng payo sa kaibigan upang malutas ang isang mabigat na problema. Sa trabaho, maayos ang takbo ng lahat ng higit pa sa inaasahan mo. Masigla ang katawan at mataas ang enerhiya kaya marami kang magagandang ideya na mabubuo. Lucky numbers: 3, 15, 21 at 37.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Kontrolin ang pagiging agresibo dahil wala namang kumokontra at wala ka rin namang  awtoridad. Pananakit ng leeg at pamamaga ng tonsil ang mararanasan. Sa trabaho, lahat ng panukala mo ay papaboran, kaya may karapatan kang taasan ang ambisyon. Mahihirapan kang makipag-usap sa pamilya mo. Gaganda ang pinansyal na sitwasyon kaya umpisahan mo nang mag-invest sa maliliit na negosyo. May konting swerte rin sa sugal. Lucky numbers: 19, 23, 29 at 35. 

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Darating ang pagkakataon na lahat ng nasa paligid mo ay aayon sa lahat ng bagay. Harapin ang responsibilidad ng buong tapang at sipag at magagantimpalaan din ang lahat ng pagsisikap mo. Madali kang makakahanap ng suporta para magtagumpay ang layunin mo. Dagdagan ang pag-iingat sa pakikipag-relasyon. Mababawasan ang alitan sa pamilya, kaya magiging masaya ulit ang tahanan. Lucky numbers: 20, 22, 30 at 45.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Hindi matatag ang trabaho mo, pero may magagawa ka upang masiguro ang kinabukasan mo. Harapin ang mga problema bilang pagsubok na dapat pagdaanan, at hindi pagkatalo o kamalasan. Ang kalusugan ay nakasalalay sa iyong disposisyon, o lagay ng kalooban. Sa pag-ibig, iwasang gawin ang dalawang bagay ng sabay. Turuan ng disiplina ang mga anak, lalo na kung maliliit pa sila at nag-aaral, maging istrikto sa oras ng pagtulog nila. Lucky numbers: 16, 29, 34 at 43.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Kung kasama sa bahay ang karelasyon, iwasan ang mga mapaghamong salita. Maayos ang pangangatawan at kalusugan sa ngayon. Iwasang maging negatibo sa lahat ng bagay, sabihin ng maayos ang hindi mo gusto. Masaya ang pagsasama ng pamilya. Nasa iyo na ang mga bagay na kailangan upang matupad ang ambisyon mo at makagawa ng hakbang; ipakita mo kung ano ang kaya mong gawin. Lucky numbers: 6, 11, 18 at 37.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Malakas ang intuisyon mo sa mga tao at mga bagay, at naiintindihan mo kung ano ang totoo. Madali kang mairita at mainis, pero mawawala din ito kapag nakatulog ka ng maayos. Magtatagumpay ka sa trabaho. Iwasang mamuhay ng marangya at higit sa iyong kinikita. Marami kang responsibilidad at desisyong gagawin dahil ikaw ang takbuhan ng iyong mga kasamahan, at malaki ang maitutulong mo. Lucky numbers: 17, 33, 40 at 46.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Sakit sa balat ang mararanasan; dagdagan ang pagkain ng sariwang ng prutas at gulay. Unti-unting bubuti ang pinansyal na kalagayan dahil kabi-kabila ang magbabayad sa iyo ng utang. Masaya ang pamilya. Mas makakabuti kung bawasan ang pagiging istrikto at mapaghanap sa mga kasamahan sa trabaho upang maiwasan ang hidwaan. Maging maunawain at aminin din kung ikaw ang nagkamali. Lucky numbers: 9, 18, 36 at 42. 

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Hindi pa napapanahon ang paghingi ng umento o taas ng sahod, sa kabila ng magandang ipinapakita sa trabaho. Dagdagan ang tulog upang mabawasan ang nerbiyos na nararamdaman. Huwag nang palakihin pa ang usapin kung ang isang kaibigan ay hindi naging tapat sa iyo. Kilalanin ang mga kaibigang sinasamahan ng iyong mga anak. Kung single, alam mo kung paano mo magagamit ng husto ang iyong karisma. Lucky numbers: 10, 19, 25 at 40.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Tigilan na ang mga walang saysay na nakagawian mong gawin. Mag-ingat sa pagkalason sa pagkain at sa nakakahawang sakit. Magpapakita ka ng kawalan ng interes sa love life. Kung may pinangakuan, gawin ang lahat upang  matupad ito. Tahimik ang trabaho ngayon; tungkol sa turismo at show business ang mainit at masigla ngayon. Magiging mapalad ka sa pagi-invest at pagbili ng ari-arian. Lucky numbers: 6, 15, 22 at 41.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Sa trabaho, matatapos mo ang mga dapat mong gawin sa takdang oras. Huwag hayaang maloko ka ng ilang kaibigan; itulong mo na lang sa pamilya ang pera kesa mapunta ito sa wala. Gamitin ang libreng oras sa pag-aaral upang lumawak ang kaalaman. Babalik ang iniindang sakit ng likod, umiwas muna sa paglalaro ng tennis at ibang nakakapagod na sports. Maglakad-lakad na lang muna o mag-swimming. Lucky numbers: 12, 27, 31 at 39.

New OFWs disclose illegal HK loan scheme

By Vir B. Lumicao

A number of employment agencies in Hong Kong, helped by their counterparts in the Philippines, appear to be using a new ploy to get their new recruits to take out loans from financing companies, in violation of the laws in both jurisdictions.

This apparent collusion between the Philippine agencies and their Hong Kong partners was disclosed to The SUN over the past week by at least 19 Filipina domestic workers who arrived from Manila in recent months.

Complainants see Labor Attache Nida Romulo.

Some of the workers reported the intricate illegal loan scheme to the Philippine Consulate on Jul 29 after receiving demand letters sent by the lender, Mutual Honour (Hong Kong) Ltd.

Labor Attaché Nida Romulo, head of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, asked her staff to call the agencies, but did not get through to the persons in charge. Someone who answered the phone in one of the agencies said their managing director suggested a meeting with the workers on Aug 31.

But Romulo rejected the offered date, and set the meeting in POLO on Aug 5, a Sunday, when most of the complainants take their day off.

Romulo advised the workers to submit sworn statements, a chronology of events and documentary evidence before that date and attend the meeting with the agency manager.

“Yung employment contract ninyo, i-xerox nyo na at ilagay ninyo roon para kumpleto ang ebidensya laban sa inirereklamo ninyong agency,” she said.

She said POLO will have to see how many workers have been affected and the labor office will summon the agencies involved to meet with the complainants.

The workers named the Philippine agencies as iEmploy Manpower Services, Infinity Manpower Services and MIP International Manpower Services. Their partner agencies in Hong Kong are Pacific Jet Consultants, Sacred Heart Consultant Inc, and Waytech Consultants.

The new money-making ruse reportedly involves requiring Hong Kong-bound domestic workers to sign a loan agreement for PhP16,000 in Manila with a lending company based here, before leaving for their jobs.

But on arrival in Hong Kong, the workers learn they will have to pay the partner agency here through a lending company. They are told to pay back the loan through 7-11 outlets using a payment account already set up while the workers were still in Manila.

And instead of merely Php16,000 the “loan” that they must pay is converted to HK$2,936 payable in two monthly installments of $1,469 each (or a total of Php19,671 at current exchange rate), for a 22% markup. The payment to the partner agency in Hong Kong is supposedly for “further training” that the workers say has not materialized. 

Under Hong Kong’s labour laws, an agency may charge a commission of no more than 10% of the worker’s first monthly salary, which in this case should just be $441. Amendments made to the Labour Ordinance which took effect in February this year provide a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of $350,000 in overcharging cases. The helpers, some of whom have sought help from the POLO and the Mission for Migrant Workers, showed demand letters sent by a Tai Po-based lending company, Mutual Honour (Hong Kong) Ltd, advising them to remit their payments through 7-11 convenience stores. 

The loan amount is on top of other illicit fees reportedly collected from them in the Philippines.

“Umabot ng Php60,000 ang binayaran ko sa ahensiya sa Maynila. Iba pa yung P25,000 training fee na siningil sa akin para sa TESDA certificate,” said one of the workers.

Two complainants said an agency branch that processed their documents in Cebu charged them PhP25,000 each for training and other fees for medical, video, and other charges. To their surprise, they were again charged the same fees in the Manila office of the same agency. 

The workers said the Manila agencies refused to issue receipts for all the payments, while the training center did issue a crude receipt, using a small piece of paper on which the amount paid by a particular worker is written down. But the firm’s name is not indicated on the proof of payment. 

The workers have sought help from the Mission for Migrant Workers to prepare and document their complaints against the agencies before lodging these with the Philippine and Hong Kong labor departments.

As of this writing, a further batch of 18 workers are still processing their papers in Manila and are due to fly to Hong Kong soon.

Number of poor Filipinos growing

More Filipinos surveyed recently consider themselves poor, a new Social Weather Stations survey found.

In the second quarter survey covering April to June, the survey with 1,200 adults as respondents, showed that 48 percent (estimated 11.1 million) families consider themselves poor. This was six points higher than the 42 percent (estimated 9.8 million families) in March.

The six-point nationwide increase in Self-Rated Poverty in the second quarter was due to sharp increases in Mindanao, Metro Manila and Visayas that were offset by a slight decrease in Balance Luzon. Meanwhile, 12 percent of self-rated poor families transitioned out of poverty.

The monthly budget that a poor household needs for home expenses in order not to consider it poor in general is P15, 000.

The SWS said proportion of families who rate their food as “poor” likewise surged by five points to 34 percent. The monthly budget that a food-poor household needs for food expenses in order not to consider its food as poor is unchanged at P6, 000.

The five-point rise in the nationwide Self-Rated Food Poverty in the second quarter of 2018 was due to increases in Mindanao, Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, and an unchanged proportion in Visayas.

The survey has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

House coup plotters in disarray over plum posts

Allies of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who had installed her as speaker of the House of Representatives have vowed to settle the leadership row by next week to restore order in the legislative chamber.

“We will try to resolve the majority leadership issue on Monday,” Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman said in a television interview.
After that, he said, the leadership would attempt to settle the row involving the position of minority leader.

So far, only the position of Speaker has been filled following the ouster of former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a chaotic leadership change on Monday before and after President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

With Arroyo’s clearance, deputy speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. has since been presiding over the session, while another deputy speaker, Fredenil Castro of Capiz, has been serving as acting majority leader.

Reports said Arroyo prefers Andaya, who had served as her budget secretary, to be the successor of Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, who was majority leader under Alvarez.

But a group of Arroyo allies is working for the retention of Fariñas, who told his colleagues last Wednesday that he was still majority leader since he has not been formally replaced.

Aside from the critical position of majority leader, up for grabs are the chairmanships of at least four committees whose chairmen either did not vote for Arroyo or are sticking it out with Alvarez.

They are Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental, committee on justice; Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, good government; Dakila Cua of Quirino, ways and means; and Roger Mercado of Leyte, constitutional amendments.

Albay’s Joey Salceda, senior vice chairman of the ways and means committee, is expected to replace Cua.

Other Arroyo allies want to grab other important committee assignments. A Lakas loyalist of hers from Mindanao is reportedly interested in the committee on accounts, which manages House funds.

The chamber has P11.2 billion for this year.

Batangas Rep. Elenita Milagros Buhain, whose father Eduardo Ermita served as executive secretary of the former president during her Malacañang days, chairs the accounts committee.

The minority leadership quarrel is a bigger headache for the new Speaker. The current minority leader is Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez. At least three colleagues want to wrestle the post from him: Edcel Lagman of Albay, Romero Quimbo of Marikina and Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

Lagman heads the independent minority group Magnificent 7, while Quimbo, who is a deputy speaker and was part of the majority, is the leader of the Liberal Party in the House. Tinio belongs to the seven-member leftist Makabayan bloc.

Add to these three is the group of Alvarez, who said in a television interview over the weekend that he wanted to “join the minority but not the opposition.”

Ex-OFW entrepreneur gives pep talk on doing business

By Daisy CL Mandap

“If you want change, you must start by changing yourself.”

This was the core message of Myrna Padilla, a former overseas worker in Hong Kong turned chief executive officer of her own software company, when she spoke at the 1st anniversary celebration of Surigaonon Association at Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town on Jul 8.

Padilla said a lack of proper education or means, should not hinder anyone from succeeding in life.

She cited her own humble beginnings in Bohol, where she reached only up to second year in high school and married early, before deciding to go to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper.

Padilla, who was recently honored by the Philippine Association in Hong Kong as one of its Most Valuable Pinoy awardees for 2018, said it was her hunger for learning that prodded her to develop her talents and potential.

From learning how to use a “mouse” from her young ward, she went on to form Mynd Consulting, which provided IT support to US-based companies, and staffed by the best software engineers in Davao City.

Her advise to OFWs who aspire to set up their own businesses was to keep the passion in whatever they do, and always aspire for originality.

“Doing business is not a matter of copy and paste,” she said.

After her speech, Padilla was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Surigaonon leader Resty Suareza, who was profuse in thanking the guest speaker who flew all the way from Davao to join them for the occasion.

Suareza is concurrently chairman of Mindanao Federation, which was founded by Padilla, who also acted as its leader until she decided to go home for good.

A surprise guest was Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, who revealed in private talks that he had just been reinstated to his post, and will return to Hong Kong on  Aug. 1.

3 UP students track Diaspora with Mission help

By Vir B. Lumicao

Three female Political Science majors of the University of the Philippines Manila are on a two-week internship at Mission for Migrant Workers to document OFW experiences in Hong Kong as material for their thesis.

Justin Francia, Trisha Aguilar and Joy Asuelo, all 19-year-old senior students who could be mistaken for high school kids, arrived on Jul 4 and have been using their 14-day visa-free visit interacting with other international volunteers and interns at the Mission.

While living and working with clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge in Sheung Wan, the students hope to understand better the plight of migrant workers in Hong Kong as they study the root of the modern-day Diaspora in Philippine society.

“Hopefully, we can use these experiences for our thesis topic,” said Francia, associate editor of the Manila Collegian and photographer of the group. She said they had a two-week internship at Migrante in Manila before coming to Hong Kong.

Carl Marc Ramota, assistant professor at UP Manila’s Department of Social Sciences who accompanied the students to Hong Kong, told The SUN that the internship is part of the practicum program of the Political Science course.

“For our section, the theme of our practicum program is labor and migration, so, it’s primarily the choice of working organizations because the Mission for Migrant workers is based on the theme itself,” Ramota said.

“So, we want to explore this type of partnership to expose our students to the plight of migrant workers here in Hong Kong,” he said.

Ramota said this is the second year that UP Manila has sent students for an internship at the Mission. Last year, the school also sent three interns, limiting the number due to logistical concerns and the capacity of partner organizations to accommodate them. 

Ramota said this is a relatively shorter program than those of other interns because of Hong Kong’s visa constraints. The students, who came here at their own expense, will return home on Jul 17.

Justin Francia, Trisha Aguilar and Joy Asuelo have been living and working with clients of Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge in Sheung Wan.

Aguilar said Ramota requires all his students to do internship in the direction of labor and migration because he wants to open their eyes to the root causes of labor migration.

“Ipinapakita sa aming mga estudyante kung gaano kalala ang  sitwasyon sa Pilipinas, kaya napipilitan ang mga Pilipino na mag-migrate, (kahit) 50-50 ang chance nila na makakuha ng magandang employer o yung employer na tinatrato silang parang hindi tao,” Aguilar said.

As part of their training, the girls tagged along with Mission director Cynthia Abdon-Tellez on Jul 8 to Chater Road, where they helped man the Mission and Bethune House booths at the anniversary celebration of United Filipinos in Hong Kong.

Whenever there is a break from their internship tasks, the three go sight-seeing, or share moments with the distressed wards at Bethune House.

“The migrants in the shelter are including us in their daily routines,” Francia said. “Most of them are also really talkative and we really enjoy our kuwentuhan with them,”

The arrival of the three was just in time for the “thank you and welcome” treat that the Mission gave on Jul 6 to their volunteers and interns at the Fanny Li Hall of the St John’s Cathedral on Garden Road, Central.

Johan Tong of the Mission said the volunteers came from Britain and the United States, Finland, and other countries. Some are with Hong Kong organizations which advocate for the welfare of migrant workers.

     

Getting avocados to ripen quickly

When cooking, many people are often taken aback by a dilemma that may seem easy to most, but could be difficult to others, especially those pressed for time and just want to get on with the chore.

One such problem is the question of how ripe is ripe for a fruit, and how can one hasten the ripening process to better plan their menu.

A fruit that often leaves people puzzled is the avocado, especially the small, roundish ones that are most prevalent in supermarkets or wet markets, and are imported from Australia or New Zealand.

For Filipinos, knowing when this type of fruit will ripen could be a big question mark, as they are often sold rock-hard and with no semblance to the Philippine variety we are more acquainted with. In the Philippines, if you buy the local variety unripe, chances are you could already use it for salads or dessert after just one or two days.

Not so with the kind usually sold in Hong Kong, which could remain hard to the touch for days. Sometimes, they get forgotten because of this, and end up being too mushy to use. Considering their cost, this could be quite disheartening.

Faced with the dilemma of ensuring her avocados are ripe enough for the day when she’d need them, Katrina Montoya-Paragas asked her fellow members in the Domestic Workers Corner this question: “Hello po, ask ko sana kung anu yung dapat gawin para madaling mahinog ang avocado?? Kasi 5days na itong nabili matigas parin?”

From about a dozen replies, the most common was one familiary to most Pinoys: Put them in your rice container.

One added this extra bit: Make sure they are well-covered by the rice.

Another suggested wrapping them in newspaper, another said they should be put inside a tightly sealed plastic bag.

Other suggestions were more unusual: One said, put them inside a brown bag with an apple and check after one day. Another suggested putting them together with big brown onions and leave them uncovered in the kitchen or living room, adding her employer taught her this. “Effective naman po,” she said.

But the hands-on winner in terms of immediacy was this suggestion: Put them in the microwave; when cooked, they should be ready to eat.

Katrina went with the most popular suggestion of burying her precious fruits in the rice box. So the jury is still out on which method is most effective.

Turning now to the biggest challenge often faced by members of DWC, which is preparing their employer’s daily meals. Being on a tight budget often adds to the problem.

Linalene J. Galvez met the challenge head on recently when she prepared two simple but from the looks of it, flavorful dishes of chicken and minced meat for her employers.

She shared the recipes and photos as below:

marinate minced pork with garlic,pepper,sugar,dark soysauce pampakulay lng po tas ibalot n po sa plastic para mai roll po...tas fry
LINARINE J GALVEZ

FBCHK sets 7th anniversary costume bowling tournament

By Vir B. Lumicao

Fancy yourself as Wonder Woman, Charlie Chaplin or a Cordillera warrior rolling a tenpin bowling ball?

Well, the rare opportunity is coming your way on Oct 7, when the Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong celebrates its seventh anniversary with a bowling party at South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre in Causeway Bay.

Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong promises fun in tournament.

The fun at the 60-lane bowling centre at 88 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, will begin at 10am and end at 4pm.

Jenny Gafate, founder and chairwoman of FBCHK, said this year’s celebration will be a lot more fun than in previous years because bowlers will have to wear funny costumes.

 “We also have free food and drinks for everyone. Kakaibang anniversary ito…nakikita kong masaya,” said Gafate.

Lucky participants will take home prizes in a raffle draw that is part of the merriment, the FBCHK said in a poster on Facebook.

The celebration is open to all interested persons or teams who are willing shell out a joining fee of $1,200 per team of four. 

Gafate said funds raised from the joining fee, which already includes the SCAA playing fee of $120 for three games, will go to a good cause.

“We’re doing it to raise funds for our future projects here in Hong Kong and in the Philippines,” Gafate said.

Every year the club uses the funds raised from its bowling tournaments to undertake charity projects, such as the feeding program for Aetas that FBCHK carried out in Subic, Zambales, on Apr 30 this year.

All-Filipina Fate is one game away from being HK's softball champion

By Emz Frial

The all-Filipina softball team Fate is one step away to victory in the Hong Kong Softball Association’s regular league. The team now leads the current season’s tournament with 10 wins and no loss.

Fate won its 10th game on Jul 22 at Shek Kip Mei field against locals Deborah, 22-3, in a game that lasted five innings.

All smiles: Fate and Deborah players pose for a picture after the game

First to bat was Myra Japitana who blasted an outfield ball that allowed her to get to second base. Then Eunice Locop batted and was safe to first base. Third batter Maribel Sitchon smashed the ball to the outfield, then ran up to the second base, while Japitana and Locop all reached home.

Later Sitchon also ran to home base when Don Gaborno hit a short infield ball. Gaborno also reached home safely, which all added up to four points for Fate.

When the locals took their turn to bat, only four players managed to stand on the batters’ box. The first of their batters was caught on a flyball by short stop Editha Hidalgo, while the second and fourth batters were called standing out.

The score remained at 4-0 in Fate’s favor at the end of the inning.

In the second inning Fate added three more to its score, courtesy of Japitana, Locop and Gaborno.  Again, the Filipinas’ tight defense made it difficult for the locals to step on the bases.

The first batter on the other side was caught on a flyball by center fielder Sitchon,  while the next two batters were both caught on the first base. 

The second inning ended with scores at 7-nil, again in Fate’s favor.

Deborah bounced back with a vengeance in the third inning, scoring three points while preventing Fate from reaching home base. Those who scored for the local team were Chiu Ka Yee,  Ngai Sze Hing and Hui  Ka Wai. 

That brought the score to 7-3 for Fate, at the end of the inning.

But Fate’s luck was not over yet. The team scored a bounty of 8 points in the fourth inning, raising their score to 15. The locals were again blanked. Those who scored for Fate were ; Hidalgo,  Jonalyn Cupag,  Percy Jayme, Juliet Fernandez, May Ledesma, Japitana, Locop and Sitchon. 

With the scores at 15-3 for Fate at the end of the fourth inning, the writing was clearly on the wall.

But there was still no stopping Fate. By the end of the fifth and final inning, the locals had added 7 more points, making the final score 22-3 in their favor.

Team captain Gaborno was understandably pleased and thankful for the overwhelming win, and again credited it to the cooperation and unity among the players.

Fate is set to play its last game of the season on Jul 29 at Tin Kwong Road field, against Red Castle Infinity.

OFW in Kwong Wah appeal dies of stroke

By Daisy CL Mandap

A Filipina domestic worker died of stroke in Kwong Wah Hospital early on Monday, Jul 23, two days after an appeal for help to get her family in the Philippines by her bedside before she passed on went viral on Facebook.

Kwong Wah's letter

Bernadett Manalo Natividad, 37, married and a resident of Guiguinto, Bulacan, died without regaining consciousness. But officers at the Consulate said her sister and a group of friends managed to gather at the hospital a day after she was rushed there in critical condition. She died a few hours afterwards.

Natividad’s medical condition became known to thousands of people in the community after a letter from Kwong Wah asking for help in facilitating the travel to Hong Kong of her family in the Philippines, went viral on Facebook.

“The abovenamed patient was admitted on the 21^st July 2018 for severe hemorrhagic stroke. Her condition is critical and life-threatening. The patient will pass away at any moment,” said the letter, which was accompanied by a copy of the Filipina's Hong Kong ID.

”It has come to our attention that she has family members residing in the Philippines. For her sake, please consider the early processing of their application to visit the patient as soon as possible,” the letter urged.

Weloff Tamayao 

According to the Virsie Tamayao of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration office, Natividad’s employer was the one who called for help after finding the helper unconscious on the night of Jul 21.

The employer also called up OWWA’s hotline to report on the case, and was coordinating with the assistance to nationals section of the Consulate on the preparations for repatriating the victim’s remains.

Tamayao said she personally went to Kwong Wah on Jul 22 to extend assistance, but Natividad was still in intensive care at the time, fighting for her life. Only a nurse reportedly briefed her on the patient’s condition.

Natividad was reportedly married with two young children. Her husband had already been notified of her death. She had been working in Hong Kong since 2015, but has been with her current employer for just a little over a year.

According to Tamayao, the worker’s family would be entitled to the Php100,000 death benefit plus Php20,000 funeral assistance extended to all OWWA members. In addition, one of her children would be given scholarship until she finishes college, in line with OWWA’s Education and Livelihood Assistance Program.

Ang hinaharap para sa iyo

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94
Iwasan ang mahahabang biyahe, pero makakabuti ang pagpunta sa malalapit na lugar. Mag-ingat sa maliliit na aksidente; upang maiwasan ang nerbiyos, mag-ehersisyo sa malawak na lugar. Tagumpay ka sa trabaho at sa lipunan pero manatiling simple at mapagkumbaba. Magiging masaya sa pag-ibig at nanaisin mong ialay ang lahat sa minamahal; matutumbasan rin ito ng pagmamahal.    Lucky numbers: 3, 15, 26 at 38.
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BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95
Ang malaking proyektong inaasam ay unti-unti nang nagkakahugis, huwag madaliin upang hindi ito lumubog. Madali kang kapitan ng sakit ngayon kaya mag-ingat. Kung hindi naniniwala, huwag mahiyang sabihin ito, kahit pa taliwas ito sa paniwala ng nakakarami. Hindi maiwasang mag-alala sa isang personal na problema kaya hindi ka mapakali, huwag mangamba dahil madali mong makokontrol ang sitwasyon at manunumbalik din ang kapayapaan ng loob.  Lucky numbers: 19, 28, 31 at 43.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96 
Mas magiging maganda ang resulta kung magiging mahinahon ka sa mga anak kaysa magalit. Mag-ingat sa posibleng pagdating ng malaking problema sa pera! Malaki ang tsansa na tumagal ang  relasyon mo sa mga bagong kaibigan. Kung laging mataas ang presyon ng dugo at maraming nararamdaman sa katawan, sundin lang ang payo ng doktor at maaayos din ang kalagayan. Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 30 at 40.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97 
Makakasiguro ka sa magandang takbo ng trabaho at pakikipag-ugnayan, pero ang pagiging pabaya at kakulangan sa tiyaga ay may mabigat na kapalit. Ang love affair ay mamumukadkad. Kung nahihirapang matulog, bawasan o tigilan ang stimulants gaya ng kape o sigarilyo. Dagdagan ang pagkain ng gulay. Tamang panahon ito sa paglilipat. Marami kang makikilalang tao na malayo sa katangian mo, pero makakasundo mo at magbibigay sa iyo ng bagong pananaw. Lucky numbers: 15, 33, 41 at 45.
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TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98 
Magiging mapanukso ka ngayon, pero huwag asahang aayunan ka ng kapartner. Sa trabaho, hindi masasayang ang pinagpaguran at ilang mabubuting kasamahan ang tutulong sa iyo. May dahilan ka para matakot sa away o masangkot sa argumento. Mapipilitan kang tanggapin na wala ka nang matatakbuhan, pero magkakaroon ka pa rin ng pagkakataong makaalpas, kumilos ka agad!  Lucky numbers: 7, 29, 36 at 42. 

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87 
Bigyan ng atensyon ang pangangatawan, kung hindi ay mahihirapan kang ibalik ang dating pigura. Iwasang maghangad ng labis at baka mauwi lang sa kabiguan. Huwag ding  maging mapaghanap sa mga taong malalapit sa iyo. Sayang kung hindi mo gagamitin ang mga bagay o katangian nasasa-iyo na. Kung nakaranas ng sobrang kagipitan, ngayon ay kakasihan ka ng swerte at mas magiging malakas at matibay ka kaysa dati.  Lucky numbers: 13, 27, 34 at 44.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88 
Nasa posisyon ka ngayong tapusin na ang pananahimik at hindi umurong sa mga  delikadong usapin kaya matapang ka na ring hingin ang nararapat sa iyo. Lalakas ang kapit mo sa puwesto. Makakaranas ng problema sa bituka.  Ang relasyon sa pag-ibig ay lalong iinit. Mag-ingat sa pagbitaw ng malaking pera sa mga bagay na hindi ka sigurado; kung gusto mong mag-invest ng malaki, kumunsulta sa mga eksperto.   Lucky numbers: 9, 14, 26 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89 
Marami kang dapat gawin, pero kulang ka sa sigla at inspirasyon; makakabuti ang kauting oras sa piling ng mga kaibigan para ganahan ka. Maging maingat sa pagmamaneho o paggamit ng makinarya dahil mabagal ang kilos mo ngayon. Maganda ang takbo ng iyong pananalapi. Magpakita ng diplomasya sa lahat ng pakikipag-usap. Tahimik sa trabaho, pero maging alerto sa mga pagbabagong magaganap. Lucky numbers: 18, 25, 31 at 42.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90
Tamang panahon na balikan ang pag-aaral, pagkuha ng pagsusulit o training course. Mag-ingat sa lahat ng pwedeng mauwi sa problemang legal. Umiwas muna sa shellfish, hilaw na gulay at produktong gawa sa gatas. Pagkakataon na rin na ito na patibayin pa ang relasyon sa magulang at mga anak. Maganda ang takbo ng pananalapi. Maganda at malaking pagbabago ang magaganap, at makikinabang ka ng husto; magkakaroon ka ng malalaking proyekto.  Lucky numbers: 16, 31, 32, at 39.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79 at 91 
Buong tapang mong haharapin ang mga problemang dumarating. Kung matatanda na ang magulang, lalong lalala ang tensyon sa pagitan nyo, dagdagan ang pasensya at unawa.  Mas magiging malambing ka sa karelasyon, pero mas magiging mapaghanap ka rin kaysa dati. Kung umiinom ng antibiotics, dagdagan ang pagkain ng yogurt na makakatulong sa bituka na naaapektuhan ng malakas na gamot. Lucky numbers: 9, 16, 20 at 29.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92
Iwasang mag-isip ng mga nakakalungkot na bagay. Sa trabaho, dagdagan ang atensyon at konsentrasyon upang makuha ang tamang resulta. Ingatan ang atay at baga; kailangan mo ng sariwang hangin at umiwas sa sobrang paninigarilyo at pag-inom ng alak at kape. Madali kang mainis kahit sa maliliit na dahilan at nababagalan ka sa takbo ng mga bagay, kaya iniiwasan ka ng mga kasamahan mo. Iwasang mag-init ang ulo. Lucky numbers: 8, 24, 28 at 42. 

TANDANG Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93
Marami kang bagong makikilala at matutuhan na makakaapekto sa iyong pananaw at paniniwala. Sa trabaho, maganda ang resulta ng pinagpaguran, manating realistiko. May senyales ng aksidente, umiwas munang magmaneho o doblehin ang pag-iingat sa linggong ito. Makakakita ka ng kapayapaan at kalinga sa tahanan. Maniguro sa tibay at kalidad ng bagay na binibili upang hindi magsisi. Huwag maging mapagmataas at bawasan ang pagsusuplada. Lucky numbers: 11, 16, 21, at 40. 

Another Pinay accused of stealing diamond ring

Another Filipina helper is being held in jail to await her trial after being accused of stealing her employer’s diamond ring.

Judibeth Yarcia appeared in Eastern Court on Jul 10, where the amended part of her charge sheet was read to her by a Tagalog court interpreter.

The court was told that between February and May 5 this year, Yarcia was accused of taking a diamond ring that belonged to her employer.

The prosecutor asked Magistrate Peter Law to adjourn the case to Aug 7 for plea-taking. He also said he would object to granting bail as the case was serious and the defendant had no local ties.

Law granted the adjournment and told the defendant she could apply for bail at the Court of First Instance. He ordered the defendant returned to jail while awaiting the decision in her baiul plea.

22-24 months for shopping with stolen credit card

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipino buddies who pleaded guilty to using a stolen credit card in March last year to buy three laptop computers and a guitar were sent to jail for 2 years and 22 months, respectively, by a District Court judge on Jul 12.

Judge Don So meted out the sentences after Hong Kong residents Manuel Roldan and Edward Reyes admitted the charges.

Roldan, a 49-year-old waiter who was charged with one count of theft and four counts of obtaining property by deception, drew a 24-month jail term.

Reyes, a 50-year-old musician and friend of Roldan who joined the shopping spree, was sentenced to 22 months for three counts of obtaining property by deception.

The case was transferred to the District Court in Wanchai from Eastern Court in Sai Wan Ho because of the seriousness of the offenses, according to Magistrate Bina Chainrai.

The prosecution report said Roldan stole a Bank of China MasterCard credit card owned by a certain Lam Chi-hau on Mar 1 last year. Using the card, he immediately went to a shop in 298 Computer Zone in Wanchai and bought a laptop computer for $1,956.  He was charged with obtaining property by deception for this.

Roldan was later joined by Reyes, and together they used the card to buy a second laptop computer worth $3,750 from Cyber System Computer shop, and a third laptop for $3,330 at Wise Computer Technology Co, both in the Wanchai Computer Centre,

Afterwards, they went to a Tom Lee Music shop at City Centre on Gloucester Road, Wanchai and bought a bass guitar and an effect machine for guitar for a total of $9,450.

They were arrested on an unspecified date after the card issuer alerted the cardholder about the series of purchases.

‘Abused’ worker breaks contract, wins claim against her employer

By Vir B. Lumicao
 

A diminutive Filipina domestic worker showed her employer she could not take the bad treatment she was getting from his wife and quit her job just 16 days into her work contract, and the Labour Tribunal supported her.

In a hearing on Jul 6, presiding officer Eric Tam ordered the employer to pay Joy Verzola her wages for the 16 days she had worked for the family and give her money for her air ticket back to the Philippines.

All in all, Verzola received $3,452 from Liu Chung Hang as payment for arrears in wages, including $1,200 for a one-way plane ticket home, and $100 in travel and food allowance. 

Initially, Liu refused to pay her wages and demanded that he be paid a month’s pay in lieu of notice because Verzola broke their contract on May 4 and refused to stay on until Jun 25.

But Tam told Liu that the worker had the right to terminate the contract if she was assaulted by the employer’s wife as she had claimed.

When Tam asked Liu to tell his side of the case, the employer said the helper just made up some of the charges. But the presiding officer rebuked Liu, asking why it was he and not his wife who was at the Tribunal. Tam said Liu’s wife should submit a statement.

“If this case goes to trial, your wife will be called to give evidence,” Tam said.

“You don’t know what is happening at home when you are at work. It’s a matter of common sense that your wife should be a witness. If (Verzola) is assaulted by your wife, she has the right to terminate the contract,” he added.

After the hearing, Verzola told The SUN she could not stand Mrs Liu’s treatment of her so she decided to break her contract. On the first occasion, the woman allegedly pulled her hair, hit her hands and grabbed her nape tightly, so she told her employment agency, and they in turn talked to her employers.

On May 4, Mrs Liu allegedly pulled the maid’s hair again after being told staff from the employment agency was coming to fetch her. Verzola called the police and they took her statement, but she did not press charges.

She said she left the Liu home penniless and was given shelter at Bethune House  Migrant Women’s Refuge.

  Verzola, an HRM graduate in the Philippines, arrived in Hong Kong on Apr 19 for her first employment overseas. The 24-year-old mother from Nueva Vizcaya said she paid P19,000 for her training and medical checkup.

Anti-Duterte protest held ahead of SONA

Lestari called Duterte 'evil'

By Daisy CL Mandap

About 50 members of various migrant and community organizations staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong today to denounce President Rodrigo R. Duterte ahead of his third State of the Nation Address in Manila.

Most vocal in their criticism of President Duterte were two foreign nationals who expressed solidarity for Filipinos, including Indonesian Eni Lestari, chair of the International Migrant Alliance, who said the Philippine president is “turning to be an “evil leader.”

“We in the international community believe Duterte should not be supported anymore,” Lestari said, citing among his alleged misdeeds the killing of innocent Filipinos in the name of the drug war, and his blatant disrespect for women.

Ma Wan Ki, a local Chinese who is secretary general of the International Confederation for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, called Duterte a “bully”, saying that for all his tough talk, he has not been able to go after big drug lords in the country.

 

Ma blasted at the extra-judicial killings

“He has done nothing except for the (shedding of) blood of the innocents,” said Ma.

Pastor Joram Calimutan, who represented the Promotion of Church People’s Response, blasted Duterte’s failure to address the problems of Filipinos, particularly the looming economic crisis brought about by heavy borrowing and rampant corruption.

“Walang ginagawa ang kasalukuyang administrasyon para matigil ang krisis, at sasabihin pa na istupido ang Diyos,” said Calimutan, who also decried other church people who  continue to openly support Duterte despite his anti-religion and anti-god rhetoric.

He also sounded alarm bells over Duterte’s alleged plan to bring in 10,000 construction workers in China as part of his “build, build, build” campaign, even if there are millions of Filipinos who don’t have jobs.

Pastor Calimutan spoke for church people

Speaking for Filipino migrant workers was Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, who called out the Philippine leader for failing to deliver on his campaign promise to provide them with a better life.

“Sona (a play on Sona) ngayon ang mga ipinangakong trabaho?”, said Balladares. “Tayong mga migrante ang patunay na ang mga ipinangakong pagbabago ay hindi nangyari.”

She cited as an example the so-called iDOLE or OFW ID, which was recently scrapped by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III amid allegations of misuse of the congressional funding for the project.

She also harped at Duterte’s failure to have a real consultation with Filipino migrants during his Hong Kong visit in April, preferring instead to party with local Chinese business people who own employment agencies, often seen as a bane to OFWs.

A bigger protest is set to be held this coming Sunday, Jul 29, to assess Duterte’s SONA and what it means to Filipinos, particularly migrant workers.

Pinay to be tried on charge of wounding fellow maid with cooking pot

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina driver who had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding a fellow domestic helper in Kennedy Town in May with a cooking pot will be tried in Eastern Court in August after she decided to change her plea.

Magistrate Peter Law told the lawyer of Maria Fe Pangue, 52, to review new facts disclosed by the defendant in a statement, when the case was heard on Jul 18. After a brief adjournment, the lawyer told the court Pangue was reversing her plea and wanted to go to trial.

Pangue was charged with woundi

Defendant is charged with hitting a fellow domestic helper on the head with a cooking pot

ng for allegedly hitting fellow helper Jethelyn Sumagay on the head with a cooking pot more than once during a quarrel on May 22 on the podium of The Belchers residential estate in Sai Ying Pun, Kennedy Town.

But after the facts of her case were read in court, Pangue said, “I plead guilty, but I have a statement about my case, your honor.”

She passed the written statement on to the magistrate, who read it and noted the differences between her account of the incident and the facts cited in the police statement.

The police report said Pangue, who worked as a driver-helper of a family residing at a tower in the estate, “unlawfully wounded” Sumagay.

But Law noted that in her statement, the defendant claimed she was struck first on the face with the pot’s lid by the victim, prompting her to hit the latter’s head once, causing it to bleed.

Law set the trial for Aug 22 in Eastern Court.

Magsasangla ka pa ba ng pasaporte?

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Ito ang nais nating itanong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga bagong-dating na kasambahay na natutuksong mangutang gamit ang kanilang mga pasaporte bilang garantiya sa uutangin.

Kapag nangutang kayo gamit ang mga inyong pasaporte bilang prenda ay huwag kayong umasang mabibigyan kayo kaagad ng Konsulado ng kapalit kapag naipit ang dokumento sa nagpautang o nakuha ito ng mga pulis bilang ebidensiya sa isang operasyon laban sa “loan-sharking” o sobrang pagpapatubo.

Nalaman namin sa isang opisyal ng Konsulado na kapag naipit o nawala ang pasaporte ng isang OFW dahil ginamit sa utang ay mahihirapan muna siya bago makakuha ng kapalit.

Sinabi ng opisyal na hihingi muna sila ng payo sa Department of Foreign Affairs sa Maynila kapag may mga lalapit na ganitong kaso para mag-renew ng pasaporte.

Kapag kailangang mag-renew ng kontrata ang nawalan ay papayuhan siyang sumulat sa Director of Passports ng DFA upang sa kanya mag-apply. Dito matatagalan ang proseso dahil susuriing mabuti ang aplikasyon. Kung bakit ganoon ang patakaran ng Konsulado ay dahil sa pang-aabuso ng maraming OFW sa kanilang pasaporte.

Ayon sa opisyal, layunin ng ganyang patakaran na matuto ang mga kababayan nating mahilig mangutang o hindi maingat sa kanilang mga gamit na kailangan din nilang igalang at ingatan ang pasaporte dahil ipinahiram lang iyon ng gobyerno sa kanila.

Paano nga naman matututo ng leksiyon ang mga kababayan natin madali silang makakakuha ng kapalit kapag ang nawala ang pasaporte ipinrenda nila sa mga nagpapautang?

Katunayan nga ay laging ipinapayo sa mga bagong-dating na OFW sa post-arrival orientation seminar o PAOS sa Konsulado na huwag nilang isangla o gamiting garantiya sa utang ang pasaporte.

Gayunpaman, nitong nakaraang buwan ay muling nabunyag na daan-daang mga kababayan nating kasambahay ang hindi nakinig sa payo at nangutang gamit ang kanilang mga pasaporte bilang garantiya.

Marahil ay wala naman silang balak na takbuhan ang kanilang mga utang. Sumabit lang sila nang mahuli ng pulisya ang taong inutangan nila. Sa kasunod na paghalughog sa tirahan ng nagpapautang, natagpuan ang mahigit 800 pasaporteng Pilipino at Indonesian na garantiya ng mga nangutang. Nakakuha rin ang pulisya ng mga kontrata sa trabaho.

Noong nakaraang taon, isang katulad na operasyon ang nabuwag ng mga pulis at nabawi rin nila ang 248 pasaporte ng mga Pilipino na inipit ng sindikatong binubuo ng mag-asawang Intsik ng Hong Kong. Kasama ang kanilang katulong na Pilipina at ilan pang mga Pinay ding kasambahay na nagsilbing “runner” ng taga-alok ng pautang.

Nalaman ng pulisya ang nasabing bawal na operasyon nang may mga nagsumbong na Pilipina dahil kailangan na nila ang mga pasaporte nila para mag-renew ng kontrata at visa ngunit hindi maibalik sa kanila ng nagpahiram ng pera dahil hindi pa umano bayad ang utang o wala sa kanila ang pasaporte ng nangutang.

Ang ginagawa pala ng mga sindikato o mga galamay nila – mga runner – ay tatanggapin nila ang pasaporte ng nangungutang kapalit ng halagang hinihiram ng tao.

Sa kagustuhan ng runner na kumita ay uutang naman siya gamit ang pasaporteng iyon bilang garantiya ngunit ang magbabayad sa inutang niya ay ang taong nakapangalan sa pasaporte. Kaya pala lumalaki nang 10 beses o higit pa ang utang ng may pasaporte.

Labag sa batas ang ganoong gawain dahil labis-labis sa hanggang 60% legal na patubo ang babayaran ng nangutang nagiging sanhi ng pagkakabaon niya sa utang.

Kapag nahuli ang mga “loan shark”, hahawakan ng pulisya ang mga pasaporteng nabawi bilang ebidensiya at walang nakakaalam kung maibabalik pa ito sa mga may-ari. Kaya nagkakaproblema ang mga nangutang pagdating ng renewal ng kanilang mga kontrata dahil wala silang pasaporteng tatatakan ng visa extension.

Sinabi ng opisyal ng Konsulado na noong una ay madali ang pag-iisyu nila ng kapalit sa mga nagre-report na nawalan ng pasaporte. Ngunit kainalaunan ay nabisto nilang marami sa mga nagsasabing nawalan ng pasaporte ay nagsangla o nangutang pala.

Paano sila matututong huwag gamitin sa utang ang pasaporte kung alam nilang madali silang makakakuha ng kapalit, sabi ng opisyal. May katuwiran nga siya. Igalang ang kundisyon ng pagkakaloob sa iyo ng pasaporte o magdusa ka.

Where to settle claims: job agency or Labour Department?

By Cynthia Tellez

A lot of times, our troubled migrant workers lack the right information on what to do and where to file their complaints when they are shortchanged by employers or agencies. This puts our OFWs in a vulnerable position and instead of a favourable resolution, they end up on the losing end because they thought they were given the proper advice.

There are migrant workers who report that their employer, after terminating their employment contract, did not give them what are due under the contract. The employer, instead of settling their obligations with their workers immediately, makes an appointment for them to see each other at the recruitment agency that facilitated the worker’s employment in Hong Kong.

Due to fear of receiving nothing if they refuse, migrant workers are forced to submit to the employer’s demand to settle claims in the office of the recruitment agency. In many cases, what happens next is that the agency just wants a way to get hold of whatever amount the employer will pay the worker.

The agency uses its “power” to pressure the worker to accept whatever is offered and from this, some amount may be deducted, including for the “completion of placement fee” plus many other things. In the end, almost nothing is left to the worker. She may even be forced to sign the receipt that makes it more difficult to file further claims against the employer at the Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department of Hong Kong.

First question: Do employers have the right to dictate where to settle their obligations to their  domestic worker? The answer is: NO.

Let us then explain the different functions of different entities related to the employer-domestic worker disputes in relation to contract. In this column, we will primarily discuss matters pertaining to employment contract violation that is within the jurisdiction of the Labour Department through its Labour Relations Division located in different districts of Hong Kong.

Technically any settlement between the employer and domestic worker is called amicable settlement which means that the dispute is settled between them and only by them. The involvement of recruitment agencies should be avoided by domestic workers. It is best to always settle disputes through the Labour Relations Division because only the Labour Department is mandated and tasked to attend to this kind of disputes.

There may be times that a Labour Officer also tells you to settle the matter at the recruitment agency. You have the right to refuse to do that.

Why should you avoid this? There are lessons to learn from the experiences of others who resorted to this move. Some domestic workers are threatened by employers by calling the police as if the worker has committed a crime. Some workers are threatened that they will not receive any amount in relation to their claims if they will not agree to settle through the recruitment agency. Some domestic workers succumb to pressures or may even be persuaded to agree, thinking that it is the easiest way to settle. Unfortunately, many experience undue deductions: “unpaid agency fees”, wages in lieu of notice and in some cases, even payment for plane ticket. They may turn out to be illegal deductions if thoroughly analyzed. But a confused and rattled migrant worker may not be in a position to do that.

They are overpowered by the presence of two authorities: employer and agency staff. “Unpaid agency fees” in many instances are overcharged fees if not illegal charges; wage in lieu of notice can be argued depending on the circumstances leading to the termination of employment contract; and air ticket is the responsibility of the employer for hiring a foreign worker. Once a domestic worker has agreed to any of these deductions, she will be forced to sign a paper stating that no further claims can be filed against the employer. It may even include the line “full and final settlement”. Thus, even if the full amount of the claims is not given, it will be difficult to file further claims, though not impossible. So, it is better to file the claims at the proper government agency that is the Labour Relations Division of the Hong Kong Labour Department and NOT the placement or recruitment agency.

The recruitment agency’s responsibility is mainly to process your work contract in Hong Kong. This includes, after ensuring the legitimacy of the employer, processing at the Philippine Consulate for authentication and verification, and then further on, to the facilitation of work visa application processing to the Immigration Department. Placement agencies based in the Philippines cannot charge any agency fee from an OFW applicant. This is based on the policy by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA in December 2006. Meanwhile, the agency in Hong Kong can charge only 10% of the first month’s salary of the worker. This, and anything related to job placement, is the main role of the agency. Also, as a reminder, throm Page agency has no right to keep the domestic worker’s passport, employment contract, and other personal official documents issued to the domestic worker including the HK Identity card.   

In summary, migrant domestic workers must not allow themselves to be pressured or coerced by their employer to settle employment claims anywhere apart from the Labour Department. When they feel uncomfortable, they should seek assistance from service providers like the Mission for Migrant Workers, which can help clarify what actions they need to take.  It is better to be cautious than sorry.

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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.

Suspended jail term for DH caught selling fake Nike shoes

Fake Nike being sold online

By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina who sold fake Nike shoes on her day off to augment her income was sentenced on Jul 19 to six weeks in jail, suspended for a year, after she admitted her offenses.

Geraldine Hurboda, a 36-year-old domestic worker, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court to charges of “possession for sale or any purpose of trade of goods to which a fake trademark was applied” and “breach of condition of stay”.

The prosecution said Hurboda was arrested on Dec 3 last year by a Customs officer posing as a civilian while selling eight pairs of fake Nike shoes to fellow Filipinos near St Joseph’s Church on Garden Road, Central.

The charge read to the defendant said the officer watched for a few minutes as Hurboda laid her merchandise on the pavement for likely buyers to inspect before arresting her.

The prosecutor said Hurboda, who came to Hong Kong on Jul 23, 2016 to work as a domestic helper for a family on Caine Road, Mid-Levels, had a clear record. She had lost her job since her arrest.

Her counsel from the Duty Lawyer Service said in mitigation that Hurboda had admitted her offenses at the earliest instance, adding that she committed them because she wanted to send more money to her ailing mother.

The lawyer read a letter from Hurboda which said she was remorseful and was hoping to get another job in Hong Kong. Her former employer also sent a letter attesting to her good character.

Law imposed a two-week sentence on Hurboda for selling fake goods and six weeks for breaching her condition of stay. Both sentences are to be served concurrently but suspended for 12 months.

“The nature of your breach of condition of stay is different from the nature of other breach of condition cases I’ve heard. Those cases involved people who are not allowed to work at all in Hong Kong. In your case, you were working in Hong Kong when you breached your condition of stay,” Law told Hurboda.

Five Pinays lose more than $300k in love-jobs scam

The victims had to pawn their passports
to borrow more money for John 

By Daisy CL Mandap

In just over two months, a group of Filipina domestic workers found themselves neck-deep in debt, all because of a charlatan who promised to get them work visas through a tech company he was supposedly setting up.

Banking on that promise, the five Filipinas racked up debts totaling a whopping $312,000, money they said all went to the Egyptian man they identified as John, but whose passport name they gave as Ghonam Aly Elsayed Aly Ibrahim.

But after reportedly demanding increasing amounts of money each month from the victims, saying he needed funds to set up the business and for him to live on, John suddenly cut off contacts with them by the end of last month.

By then, the Filipinas were already facing the fruit of their folly. Debt collectors from the various financing companies and individuals they borrowed money from, began calling them up to demand payment.

As a result, at least three of the alleged victims had their contracts terminated, and they would soon head home penniless and in tears, fearful of the adverse consequences of not being able to pay the huge amounts of money they had borrowed so recklessly.

All five filed statements at the Consulate on Jul 15, with at least one making a separate complaint at the Central Police station. Everyone was desperately seeking advice, wary of the notorious debt collectors that were closing in on them, and worried they could no longer work in Hong Kong.

The alleged scam unfolded on Feb. 18 this year, when Vivian - who was among those who complained - met John, a good-looking man who said he was from Alexandria, Egpyt, in a park in Hong Kong. 

John, who was on tourist visa, reportedly wanted to look for a job in Hong Kong, but he had no money. He allegedly said he could also set up his own IT company from home, but he must need at least a computer and an iPad.

Vivian responded to this by borrowing $30,000 from a financing company so John could buy whatever he needed for his business, and to pay the recruitment agency that would help him find a job.

Not long after, they became a couple.

But soon, John’s needs began to include his daily meals and accommodation, forcing Vivian to borrow heavily. In the end, she said her losses had run up to no less than $110,000.

Still, John reportedly kept asking for more that Vivian had to look for other people who could help put up the money for him.

That was when Mariz, whom Vivian met at the training centre they both attended in the Philippines prior to deployment, came into the picture.

Mariz, a single mother of three who had been working in Hong Kong for only 15 months, was easily lured by the promise of transitioning from maid to staff at an IT company that she readily took out a loan of $20,000 on Apr 15 to give to John.

At one point, she said Vivian even managed to get her to sign the loan agreement for an iPhone 8 that they bought for John in Worldwide Plaza.

Mariz ended up borrowing a total of $80,000 for him.

But so impressed was she of John’s vision, and also allegedly because of Vivian’s relentless nudging, that Mariz enticed a 24-year-old niece to also borrow money to help set up their dream company. This young newcomer ended up with debts totaling $63,000.

A friend who also quickly fell into the trap reportedly ended up indebted by $52,000; while a friend of this friend lost “a mere” $7,000 because she got into the picture much later than they did, and even managed to make Vivian pay $2,000 of her original $9,000 loan.

According to Mariz, they were told to borrow money nearly every week that on their days off they would look for all possible sources, even the loan sharks who demanded their passports and work contracts as collateral.

At one stage when she began entertaining doubts about the whole scheme, Mariz said she was told by Vivian that she already had a two-year work visa and had paid for a flat that she and John would move into. That reportedly erased whatever doubts she had in her mind.

Thus, when John had to leave for Macau at the end of his three-month visitor visa, Mariz said she even went there on her day off to deliver some of the borrowed money. She said John and Vivian gave her money for her boat fare, but the loaned amounts were delivered to them intact.

That was the first and only time she met the man who would soon leave

them all with a mountain of debts, and a shattered future.