Farewell to Sir Junie, from Stanley Prison

By Mario delos Reyes

The Philippine Consulate’s Assistance to Nationals Section (ATN) lives up to its name and purpose. It is perhaps the most crucial section of he consulate, as it is a crisis troubleshooter, not only for the vast number of OFWs in Hong Kong, but also to all Filipino nationals, including tourists or those just in transit in the city, who happen to run afoul with the law.

Though relatively understaffed, it is always there to assist Filipino nationals in whatever problems they may encounter.

ATN is currently headed by a new but super active and perceptive, and seasoned diplomat, in the person of Consul Paul V. Saret. He has been in his post for just a few months but he has already visited us twice in prison, and I found out that he is so well informed on a wide range of OFW concerns, but also on the highly controversial and sometimes annoying prison transfer issue. He is so keen to make a difference in the approach to ending the impasse on getting this treaty implemented, and succeed where many others failed.

Junie Cayabyab and daughter.

In the meantime, ATN will soon be saying goodbye to one of its workhorses, a very able staff who is up for recall. Attache Hermogenes Cayabyab Jr is set to return to the main office of the Department of Foreign Affairs after completing a full six years of an eventful and fruitful service.

According to him  no specific place is in the offing for his next posting. But in one of our informal conversations he expressed a willingness to be reassigned to conflict zones in the Middle East.  I came to know that his first posting was in the oil-rich Arab emirate of Qatar although he was temporarily deployed to Syria to assist in the evacuation of OFWs from the war-torn country.

He is so eager to help our migrant workers who are in desperate and precarious situations, and he was tested to the limit during his Hong Kong sojourn.

Credibility and competence in the performance of assigned duties, coupled with tact and diplomacy, are the main traits of a model envoy. With my natural curiosity that makes me a keen observer of people, I can say that Sir Junie as we fondly call him, is one of those who possess these qualities.

On hearing about his impending recall, I placed a call to the Consulate to bid him farewell and to thank him for some unprecedented service rendered to us for which he was partly responsible. However, I was not able to get to talk to him as he was dealing with an emergency case outside of the office, which I know was part of his normal routine.

Looking back to his arrival six years ago, I remember noticing that the Consulate’s prison visit became a regular event, where previously, it was just a random thing. It also marked the first time that a consul general (Bernardita Catalla) made a surprise visit to us. Not only that, my request for the Congen to attend my graduation was granted to my delight, and of course, Sir Junie was there as an escort. Sir Junie is talk and has a solid physical built, making him an ideal escort for a lady in an all-male prison.

Due to our incessant request for the consulate to intervene on our behalf for the prison transfer to be implemented, an extraordinary event occurred. The Philippines’ acting justice secretary came for a face-to-face visit with us, for the sole purpose of responding to our many queries in regards to the issue of transfer. I am pretty sure this visit would not have proceeded smoothly without the guidance and active participation of this humble attaché.

After four consecutive days of trying to contact Sir Junie I became lucky enough to get him on the line. During our conversation I jokingly asked if he was now about to retire. “I am still young and still have plenty of years left to serve,” was his animated reply.

I next asked him what was the most unforgettable and interesting case he had handled as an ATN officer in Hong Kong. After a short pause, he finally muttered, “Marami sila, pero lahat ay itinuturing kong pare-parehas at parte lang ng aking trabaho.” Then he continued somewhat apologetically, but in an emotion-filled voice:  “Pasensiya na kayo kung ano man ang pagkukulang ko sa inyo na hindi ko nagampanan, at nawa’y makalabas na kayong lahat ng mas maaga. Lalo na ikaw, ilang buwan na lang at makakalabas ka na, at akala ko noong una ay maisasabay na kita sa pag-uwi…konting tiis na lang at magkikita-kita na lang tayo sa atin.” All I could tell him at the end of our conversation was “Thank you for being with us”.

Sir Junie had been a constant fixture in the consular prison visits for the entire duration of his tour of duty, and though he always had a friendly and genial demeanor he often spoke just a word or two. However, he would always be all ears and eyes during our often lively exchanges with the rest of the consular officers.

Sir Junie will be greatly missed, not just by us, but I am sure, also by the greater Filipino community in Hong Kong. On behalf of all the Filipino inmates in the different institutions in Hong Kong, I would like to say, “Thank you, Sir Junie, for always being there when we needed you most. Goodbye and we salute you for a job well done.”

On Hong Kong’s Live-in Policy

This was a short statement read by Gina “Jhic” G. Dacio at the Legislative Council hearing on July 16, 2018 in which she urged for the amendment, if not scrapping, of the Hong Kong government’s live-in policy for foreign domestic workers. Dacio, who is 43 and has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for the past 16 years, is from Tabuk City, Kalinga. She is chairperson of Share Hong Kong Society.

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Good afternoon, I am Gina Dacio, a domestic helper and from the Philippines and the chairperson of Share Hong Hong Society. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. This is my first time here. I am lucky because most domestic workers cannot even come to LegCo. I had to ask for time off to come here today. 

I’d like to start with a question. Can you imagine, if you have to live in your employers’ home, in a space that’s only as big as your bed, and may be waken up during the night to work? How would you feel? Do you think this is a healthy work situation? My answer is no. This is against the rights of the helper. But this is happening to many domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

The law in Hong Kong states that we should have suitable accommodation and reasonable privacy. But according to the Mission for Migrant Workers, 2 out of every 5 of its clients do not have their own private room, 9 out of 10 experience long working hours and insufficient sleep, and 34% work over 16 hours every day. 

Today, I would like to bring up the Live-in rule that foreign domestic helpers are longing to be changed and amended. This rule has led to countless cases of physical abuse and unsatisfactory, even inhumane living conditions. Migrant workers are often given tiny bed spaces to sleep in, and suffer from insufficient food and insufficient sleep due to long working hours. Also, employers and their family members are able to command the worker to do chores, even in the middle of the night.

These are all forms of breaching foreign domestic helpers’ rights, and of abuse that may lead to foreign domestic helpers becoming seriously ill, or even die.

In this regard, we must all remember Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, the Indonesian domestic helper who suffered extensive abuse at the hands of her employer which nearly caused her death.

If this rule has no chance of being amended, at least require employer to provide their foreign domestic helpers decent bed space to sleep and rest in, not in a toilet or in the kitchen, or on the sofa in living room, or the floor. Require the employers to give us sufficient food or food allowance, at least 11 hours of rest, and respect and treat us as  human beings, like they are. All of these would ensure that foreign domestic helpers are able to build up enough body resistance to sustain them through their daily routine.

I hope my message would create an impact and bring about changes and freedom from discriminations in this society. This would allow us to continue to provide better service to your families and respond to all your needs because our work makes this city function.

Kapag tumaba...

Isang sulyap lang sa Facebook ay mapagtatanto natin na marami sa mga OFW sa Hong Kong ay tumataba, o kung hindi man, ay nag-”gain weight”. Wala namang masama dito. Nagpapakita lamang na masarap ang pagkain natin, at masarap talaga tayong kumain.

Magkakaproblema lang kung, sa paghahangad na mabalik sa dati nating kaseksihan, ay kung anu-ano ang ating inumin, kahit pa ito ay nakasasama.

Sa tagal namin ditio sa Hong Kong ay kung anu-ano nang paraan ng pagpapayat ang nauso. Kung epektibo nga sila, bakit lumubog-lumitaw lang sila sa paglipas ng panahon?

Ang pinakamakamandag ay ang mga “gamot” kuno na iniinom.

Natatandaan mo pa ba, halimbawa, ang Thai slimming pills? May kakilala kami na imbes pumayat ay lalong tumaba dahil dito. Mayroon namang tinamaan ang atay at naospital nang mapansin na ang balat niya ay naninilaw, dahil may sangkap pala itong lason.

Ang pinakabago ngayon ay ang Susuya. Nagiging popular ito dahil high-tech kung bilhin, ika nga, dahil makikita ang nagbebenta nito sa internet. At dahil nga high-tech, ipinagmamalaki pa ng mga umiinom nito na sila ay nagpapa-slim sa pamamagitan ng pag-inom nito —na para bang ito ay status symbol na nakakaengganyo sa iba.

Puwes, may masamang balita kami para sa kanila: Nagpalabas na ng warning ang Department of Health (DH) laban sa produktong ito.

Sinabi ng DH na may sangkap itong Sibutramine na isang lasong pampasuya sa pagkain at naka-ban sa Hong Kong mula pa noong 2020 dahil nagsasanhi ito ng sakit sa puso, at Bisacodyl na isang pampatae na nagsasanhi ng sakit ng tiyan.

Maliban sa warning na pangkalusugan, sinabi ng DH na kung mahuli kang nagbebenta ng Susuya, maaari kang parusahan ng multang $100,000 at pagkakakulong ng dalawang taon.

Kaya mga ate, kung gusto nating magpapayat, gawin ito nang tama upang hindi tayo mapahamak. Ibang usapan na, ika nga, kung kalusugan natin ang nakataya.

Simple lang ang natural na paraan upang makamtan ang gusto nating pigura: ang pagbawas ng kinakain (o ang pagkain ng mas maraming gulay) at pagbabanat ng buto sa pamamagitan ng ehersisyo.

‘We are not slaves’

By Daisy Catherine L. Mandap

This is something that Hong Kong, being the world-class city that it claims to be, will never admit: that many migrant workers are being treated like virtual slaves here.

For just over $4,000 a month, foreign domestic workers are expected to work for as long as their employers want them to, and that means 12 hours on average daily. Some, as several studies have shown, actually work for 16 hours straight, leaving them with just eight hours to attend to personal needs, and sleep.

For most, this also involves long hours of backbreaking work – non-stop cleaning, marketing and cooking, taking young wards to and from school, washing and ironing clothes, and just about anything that the employer could fit in a day.

The expectation, fueled in large part by the government’s mandatory live-in policy, is that a foreign domestic worker must be able, and willing, to do all the household jobs set out by the employer, at practically all hours of the day.

What makes it worse is that many workers, on top of not having enough rest periods, are not given a decent place for rest and sleep. Well-documented are the cases of domestic workers being made to sleep in storage rooms, laundry areas, terrace, the sofa in the living room, kitchen floor, and even the toilet.

But despite the recurring reports of such blatant disregard for the safety, health and welfare of migrant workers, the government has not done much to ease their plight. For the longest time, the only positive step it has taken was the ban on dangerous window-cleaning, and only because our Consulate, particularly Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre, had taken the initiative to put a stop to the disgraceful practice.

Given this scenario, it is just right for support organizations like the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body to start taking a new tack in solving these age-old problems plaguing foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong.

Instead of reiterating its previous call for minimum work hours, AMCB is now demanding 11 hours of uninterrupted rest for migrant workers. This means that a domestic worker would still be at the beck and call of the employer for up to 13 hours – but nothing longer than this.

And instead of pressing for a more detailed description of what “suitable accommodation” in the standard employment contract of migrant workers means, AMCB is now calling for some sort of an exclusion provision, in which all the unsuitable sleeping areas are listed down. This should end, once and for all, any subjective interpretation of this vague provision in the contract.

But beyond these, AMCB and its affiliate organizations are keeping up the fight for a more humane treatment of migrant workers overall. This includes raising their minimum wage to $5,500 a month, a figure they say is based on hard data and not on some amorphous calculations, as what the government is wont to do.

Less strident but no less reasonable, is the call to raise the food allowance to $2,500 a month. At this rate, a worker who is not given free food by the employer or facilities for cooking, will get an extra $100 daily, which is a fair amount, given that an ordinary lunch box in fast food outlets costs upwards of $40 nowadays.

Still in the cards is the demand to make live-in arrangements optional, and for the policy that requires all terminated workers to leave Hong Kong within 14 days, scrapped.

There are still many other problems confronting migrant workers that need to be addressed, including the persistent overcharging of fees by employment agencies, the failure of the police to immediately act on cases involving them, and Immigration’s apparent crackdown on those whose contracts are terminated prematurely.

But for now, AMCB’s Eman Villanueva says what his group is asking for are the bare minimum – a living wage, a decent place to sleep in, and basic protection from abuse for one of society’s most vulnerable sectors.

Surely that’s not asking for too much?

University lecturer reminds OFWs about life goals

By Ellen Asis

Why did you leave home to become an overseas Filipino worker?

This was the initial question raised by Dr. Ju Chen Chen, an anthropologist and senior lecturer at Chinese University,  to  about 50 participants in a workshop titled “Understanding the Journey,” held at the Consulate on Aug 26.

Ju said that from her experience dealing with migrant workers their life story is not all the same, and it is not all about money.

And OFW interacts with Dr. Ju Chen Chen, an anthropologist and senior lecturer at Chinese University.

There are two stereotypes that emerge from the answers given by migrants as to why they decided to work overseas. The first is a filial daughter or a generous mother who sacrifices herself for her family; the other is a curious and sometimes rebellious youth who takes the chance and the risks involved, just to see the world.

One participant named Sarah said that she decided to work in Hong Kong because she believes that the city is the land of entrepreneurs, and all the experiences that she has gained will help her to become a successful businesswoman in the future.

Another participant named Edna said that she left the Philippines because she needed a break and space from her husband.

Yet another named Odi said she left home when she was just 22 years old because her father had died and she needed to earn money to support her younger siblings. Now she feels lucky to have found good employers, for whom she has been working for the past 23 years.

A participant named Sayra gave the funniest answer. She said she decided to leave the Philippines because she wanted to experience flying on an airplane.

She also regards her stay in Hong Kong an educational one because she gets the chance to learn different skills and join activities she sees as empowering.

It is also a continuing learning experience. For example, her employer has taught her that small tomatoes are called cherry tomatoes, a piece of information she thinks is very useful.

Ju said that many Filipino migrants worker find alternative ways to enjoy their stay, like joining activities such as beauty pageants. Through this activity, a Filipino domestic worker often dubbed as “Checherella” manages to transform herself on a Sunday into a well dressed and confident person, which is very much different from what she is like when she works during the rest of the week.

Ju said that in one of the beauty pageants she attended one of the contestants said she only wanted to gain experiences and stories that she can tell to her grandchildren.

 Deputy Consul General Roderico Atienza who introduced Dr. Ju said the participants very privileged to have someone from a different nationality who is willing to help Filipino migrant workers gain an insight and understanding about their journey as migrant domestic helpers.

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

DH locked up 21 months for burglary, illegal work

A Filipina domestic worker has been jailed 21 months in jail by a District Court judge on Sept 5 after she pleaded guilty to charges of burgling a firm in Central in February and taking $180,000, and breaching her condition of stay by working part-time for the firm.

Rachel Rosimo, a 35-year-old mother of two, stood calmly in the dock as Judge Frankie Yiu pronounced her sentence.

The judge gave the convict a discounted 20 months for burglary and a shortened sentence of 2 months for breach of condition of stay, with the latter to be served starting on the 19^th month of the first sentence.

District Court.

Having been detained for seven months before Wednesday’s sentencing, Rosimo will have to spend only 14 more months in jail.

Rosimo was originally accused of trespassing on Feb 3 this year, along with unknown persons, into the office of Sante Barley (Hong Kong) Ltd. on the 10^th floor of Lansing Bldg along Queen’s Road Central and making off with $180,000.

She was also charged with breaching her condition of stay to work only as a domestic worker by taking up employment with the company.

In an amended charge read in court on Sept 5, the prosecution said Rosimo told police investigators in her sworn statement that she worked as a part-time administrative staff of Sante Barley doing sales reports, inventory counting and cashier customer service. 

The convict said she and another Filipino, Ronato Bagui, were Sante Barley’s only staff.  

On the morning of  Feb 3, Rosimo called up Bagui and told him the office had been broken into. Bagui rushed to the office and found the $180,000 cash missing from the box where he had locked it up the previous evening. The money represented sales of health products that the company marketed.

Police examined the building’s CCTV footage on Feb 3 and saw Rosimo, dressed is black and wearing a mask, entering Lansing House at 7:47am and leaving at 7:56 am. They arrested her outside the office on Feb 6 and she admitted to stealing the money.

Cash totaling $15,990 made up of bank notes of different denominations was recovered from her room in Wanchai.

In a video-recorded interview the same evening, Rosimo told police she was instructed by a Filipino couple named Jessica and David to open the office door and tell them where the money was. She said she did as told and the couple entered and took the money.

She said Jessica and David had promised to pay her loan at Public Finance, and indeed paid $6,000 to the lender. They also gave her an additional $10,000 with a promise to repay her loan balance.

The prosecution said there was no trace of Jessica and David. Except for the money recovered in Rosimo’s Wanchai room, the rest of the loot was still missing.

The defense lawyer said in mitigation that Rosimo, who took up an engineering course, came to Hong Kong in March 2017 to work as a domestic helper. She has an 8-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter. Her husband is a construction worker.

The lawyer said Rosimo had taken out a loan to build her family a house.     

Pinay denies indecent assault on local man

Eastern Court.

In an unusual case, a Filipina domestic helper is set to be tried on charges of indecently assaulting a local Chinese man, right inside her employer’s flat.

Ivy Rebustillo appeared before Magistrate Peter Law in Eastern Court on Sept 6 to face one count of “common assault” and another count of “indecent assault”.

Rebustillo, who is out on bail, denied both charges, and will now have to stand trial on Oct. 6.

The prosecution said the offenses allegedly took place in a residential flat along King’s Road, North Point on June 30 this year. No other details of the alleged incident were mentioned in court.

Prosecution also said they had taken a statement, a video recorded interview with the alleged victim referred to only as “Mister X,” lasting one hour and 17 minutes. They also have a 30-minute CCTV footage showing the alleged offenses.

The duty lawyer handling Rebustillo’s defense said he he would challenge the video recorded interview during the trial. - Virgilio B. Lumicao

  

612 qualify for Sept 30 LET

A total of 612 aspiring public school teachers among Hong Kong-based Filipinos have been approved by the Professional Regulation Commission to sit for the Special Licensure Examination to held in the city at the end of September.

The complete list of both qualified examinees this year for the annual licensure exam has been  uploaded on the Facebook page of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.

There are potentially 319 elementary teacher examinees this year from Hong Kong compared with 215 last year. For secondary teachers, 293 have qualified for the test, including six who will be taking the exam in the Philippines.

Gemma A. Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers – Hong Kong Chapter, noted that the list may have grown longer this year because of the SPIMS program of the government.

SPIMS, or “Sa Pinas Ikaw ang Ma’am, Sir,” is a joint program of the Department of Labor and Employment, National Reintegration Center for OFWs and the Department of Education and Culture to encourage teachers who had gone abroad to work as domestic helpers to return home and teach.

This year's LET may be held again at Delia Memorial School -Hip Wo in Kwuntong because of its facilities that are ideal for the exam.

Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo had said last year that 81,000 new teachers’ posts would be added this school year to the Philippines’ public school system because of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 program that extended the number of years of learning for students before they can go to college.

POLO has not yet announced the venue for the exam, but it is likely to be held at Delia Memorial School -Hip Wo in Kwun Tong because of its facilities that are ideal for the exam.

Lauraya said final coaching sessions organized by NOPT and handled by Carl Balita Review Center will be held this Sunday and on Sept 16. She said more than 250 teaching aspirants have been attending the review classes.

“Sana lang, better results this year than in previous years,” said Lauraya when asked about her expectations for the passing rate this year. Only 13% of the 460 who sat for the exam last year have passed, a poor performance compared with around 50% the first time the LET was held in Hong Kong several years back.

Lauraya said the venue this year is likely to be Delia Memorial School-Hip Wo in Kwun Tong, the site where the Civil Service Examination was held in November 2016 and the LET in September last year.

“Most likely Delia ulit po iyan, kasi yung facilities po, eh,” she said. In terms of pricing, Delia charged $40,000 for the use of its classrooms and facilities last year, compared with the hefty $200,000 that POLO paid for an exhibition hall at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2016.

Lauraya said she had received messages from individuals who could not find their names on the list. She said this could be due to problems with the new directives on payment of the exam fee or discrepancies in their documents that led to their applications missing the deadline for submission.

She said three are missing from the list and a few others have commented on her post that their names had been misplaced on the list.

For instance, there were those who indicated they would sit for the Social Studies test but were now on the list for Technology and Livelihood Education, Lauraya said.

Filipina helper held in jail for alleged ‘ice’ trafficking

 By Vir B. Lumicao

A Filipina domestic worker is being held in Tai Lam Correctional for Women after being arrested in May for alleged drug trafficking.

Analyn de Leon, who has been working in Hong Kong since July 2016, appeared in West Kowloon Court on Sept 3 on a charge of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

It was not clear if she was arrested on her return to Hong Kong from the Philippines.

With De Leon’s arrest, there are now at least 32 Filipinos, a number of them men but mostly women,  being held in various Hong Kong jails for drug-related charges. Six males of the 32 are male long-time inmates serving their sentences.

The lone male who is awaiting trial was arrested in June last year after apparently delivering 2 kilograms of cocaine to two Latin American men in Yaumatei, according to the Consulate.

De Leon, along with three other Filipina drug trafficking suspects, are being held in Tai Lam pending the resolution of their cases.

Prosecution stated in court that it would oppose any bail application for De Leon, even while the defense said it had no instructions from the defendant to apply for bail.

Magistrate Ada Yim adjourned the hearing until Oct 2 for further investigation.

Records at the Consulate show that De Leon was arrested by customs officers at the Hong Kong International Airport on May 4 this year.

The Consulate’s assistance to nationals section managed to verify with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office that De Leon was an OFW from Calamba City, Laguna.

  

Filcom’s big brother going home with heavy heart

By Vir B. Lumicao

Filipinos in Hong Kong will surely miss their “big brother” at  the Consulate when he ends his tour of duty in late August.

Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr.

Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr., who is known to many as “Kuya Junie,” has endeared himself to the community for his role as the Consulate’s liaison with the Hong Kong police, Immigration, hospitals and other relevant government agencies on concerns of sick and troubled Filipinos.

Fifty-year-old Cayabyab is set to return to the Home Office on Aug 25, exactly six years after coming to Hong Kong in 2012 to join the assistance to nationals section, the Consulate’s office that attend to Filipinos who need help.

His replacement, Arnel de Luna from the Home Office, arrived in Hong Kong on Aug 17 and started going around with Cayabyab to familiarize himself with his prospective duties and meet contacts.

“Siyempre nakakalungkot umalis kasi … community ang trabaho natin,” Cayabyab said in a recent interview.

“Sabi ko nga, napakalaking pribilehiyo, napakalaking blessing kasi yung attachment ko sa community plus yung nature ng trabaho ko dito parang nagkakatulungan na,” he said.

Cayabyab said Filcom groups, in particular his own community, the Couples for Christ, were saddened by the news that he would be returning home soon.

On weekends, he would visit various Filcom groups to bond with them or listen to their problems, and on occasions, comfort Filipinos who are seriously ill in hospitals, or check on the condition of those who are in jail.

“Kapag tinatawagan nila kami sa ospital, alam na nila kasi may direct number ako sa ospital para mapapabilis (ang tulong), lalung-lalo na yung mga hindi kaya ng OWWA,” he said.

He was referring to cases where the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is unable to extend help, as in the case of overstaying Filipinos who can’t access free medical services.

Among those particularly saddened by his impending departure are long-term Filipino prisoners like Mario delos Reyes, who is serving a life sentence for murder at Stanley Prison. The inmate, who is a prodigious and talented writer, is said to have vowed to write a story about Cayabyab.

Asked for the most memorable case he has handled in Hong Kong, Cayabyab said it was when he had to spend New Year’s Day near the Chinese border with a domestic worker who was searching for the burial site of her sister who had earlier gone missing and then found floating at sea.

“On New Year’s Day, we were in Sandy Ridge Cemetery up on the hills of Lowu. We had requested for police assistance and the officers showed us pictures of those buried there, then drove us to the spot,” Cayabyab said. It was a place where the police buried unclaimed bodies, as they believed the dead was a mainlander, he said.

Once the grave was found, Cayabyab sought the help of local workers to exhume the body, then had it packed and shipped home. To this day, he said the deceased’s sister would visit him regularly and hear mass at the Consulate.

Because of the case, he said he became friendly with the local police and correctional officers, making it easier for him to liaise on cases and obtain access to OFW inmates.

“Kahit na Linggo iyan, (kung) gusto kong pumunta doon, dalhin ko yung mag-ina ko, parang pasyal lang. Kapag may emergency na itinatawag nila, madali lang (puntahan),” he said. He said he had given the police his mobile phone number so they could easily reach him at any time or day.

According to Cayabyab, the most difficult part of his job is breaking bad news to the families of workers. “Kailangang iparating mo nang mahinahon sa kanila, kasi kung minsan merong hahagulgol bigla. Kailangang pakikiramdaman mo muna by phone ang iyong kausap. Kasi minsan, mayroong maysakit, baka ma high blood,” Cayabyab explained.

Whatever assignment he takes on, he heeds the advice of his superiors to act immediately once he gets the details of a particular case.  He says he looks up to his bosses because they had gone through the most difficult selection process, making them experts.

Hong Kong was Cayabyab’s third and first full-term foreign posting since joining the Foreign Service 25 years ago. His first foreign assignment was Doha, Qatar, and then Syria, where he had to help in the rescue and repatriation of workers trapped in factional fighting there.

He says Doha was his most exciting post, as conditions there are far different from here.

“Doon kasi sa Doha, yung mga nakakulong, ang tingin nila pag dumarating ako, parang anghel, eh. Kasi walang dalaw doon kundi ako. Ikaw lang talaga ang maaasahan nilang darating, kaya pag dumating ka talagang tuwang-tuwa ang mga iyan,” he said.

Filipinos there behave better than their kababayans in an “open city” Hong Kong, he said. In the Middle East, they are law-abiding because they are afraid of being thrown into jail in the middle of the desert, “Tatakas ka man, walang kang pupuntahan.”

Cayabyab will be leaving with his wife Merlyn, who also used to work with the Foreign Service, and their Chinese-speaking daughter who is in second year high school at Rosary Hill School.

In Manila, he will be working in the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, where he said he will remain accessible to Hong Kong OFWs.

Kathniel, umamin na may relasyon

Anim na taon na ang love team na KathNiel nina Kathryn Bernardo at Daniel Padilla, at ang kanilang mga pelikulang pinagtambalan ay kumita ng husto sa takilya. Sa promotion ng kanilang pinakabagong pelikulang “The Hows Of Us”, ginulat nilang dalawa ang publiko sa pag-amin na limang taon na silang magkarelasyon. Bagama’t matagal nang ipinapakita ng dalawa ang sweetness nila sa isa’t isa, ngayon pa lang nila kinumpirma ang matagal nang hinala ng lahat. Ayon kay Daniel, napilitan na silang umamin dahil naubusan na raw sila ng dahilan para itago pa ito.

Masaya daw sila, at marami silang natututuhan sa isa’t isa. “ Sa personal at propesyonal, s’ya lang ang kasama ko. Happy ako ngayon,” ang sabi pa ni Daniel.

“Kung hindi mo nakikita future mo sa tao, ba’t ka magi-stay? Kami ni DJ, kapit-kamay kami kasi we see a future together,” ang sabi naman ni Kathryn. Seryoso daw ang kanilang relasyon kaya napag-uusapan na rin ang tungkol sa kasal at pagkakaroon ng pamilya, at maging ang disenyo ng kanilang bahay sa hinaharap. Ang gusto ni Daniel kapag sila ay ikinasal ay malaking church wedding, at ang kanilang fans ay maghihintay sa labas. Pero si Kathryn ay mas gusto raw ang intimate beach wedding, na ang kasama lang ay ang kanilang mga pamilya at kaibigan. Sa Pilipinas din niya gustong magpakasal dahil marami namang magagandang beach dito, at masyadong mahal daw pag magpakasal sa ibang bansa.

Hindi pa naman daw ito mangyayari agad dahil marami pa silang dapat gawin, “basta wag lang masyadong matanda” ang dugtong pa ni Daniel. Sa ngayon ay masaya rin ang kanilang kani-kanilang pamilya at mga kaibigan para sa kanila dahil parehong silang nagma-mature ng maayos at responsable pagdating sa kanilang mga trabaho. Pareho silang mababait na mga anak at kapatid sa kanilang pamilya at ayon sa malalapit sa kanila, ay hindi nagbago o lumaki ang ulo kahit sikat na sikat na sila.

Ang director ng kanilang pelikula na si Cathy Garcia Molina ay nagsabi na ang KathNiel ang magiging katulad nina Sharon Cuneta at Gabby Concepcion o Nora Aunor at Tirso Cruz III pagdating sa kasikatan bilang loveteam, na nang lumaon ay naging mahuhusay na mga artista.

LJ AT ROCHELLE, BUNTIS 
Magkasunod na nagpahayag ang mga Kapuso actresses na sina LJ Reyes at Rochelle Pangilinan na sila ay nagdadalantao.

Ibinalita ni LJ ito sa pamamagitan ng isang video sa You Tube na may pamagat na “A Pleasant Surprise” kung paano niya ipinaalam sa kanyang anak na si Aki ang kanyang kundisyon, na sa bandang huli ay ipinakita pa niya ang kopya ng sonogram (imahe ng internal organs na mula sa ultrasound) ng kanyang tiyan. Hindi agad napaniwala si Aki, 8, (anak ni LJ sa Kapamilya actor na si Paulo Avelino), kaya tumulong pa si Paolo Contis na ipaintindi sa kanya na totoong buntis ang mommy niya. 

Ibinahagi rin ito ni Paolo sa Instagram:  ”YES WE ARE! God has blessed us with the perfect gift and we couldn’t be happier! We want to thank our families and friends who are as excited as we are. And to you @lj_reyes ... When we became a couple 3 years ago, I felt so lucky!With all the problems I had,  all the baggage I carry, you still accepted me and became my partner and strength. Yes, we do have our bad days (dahil matigas ang ulo ko) but we always manage to be okay and happy...And now that we are expecting... I promise to be beside you all the way. You will never ever be alone. Thank you for everything my love! Mahal na mahal kita! We feel so happy and blessed and we just can’t help but share this great news with everyone. Now, let’s celebrate!!” #BabyContis2019"

Apat na buwan nang buntis si LJ sa kanilang magiging anak ni Paolo, na tatlong taon na niyang karelasyon. Ito ang magiging pangalawa niyang anak, at pangatlo naman kay Paolo, na may dalawang anak na babae, sina Xonia at Xalene, sa dati niyang asawang si Lian Paz, na may iba na ring pamilya ngayon at naninirahan sa Cebu.

Samantala, masayang ibinalita rin kamakailan ni Rochelle Pangilinan at asawang si Arthur Solinap na magkakaroon na sila ng anak. Ito raw ang pinakamagandang regalong natanggap nila pagkatapos nilang ipagdiwang ang kanilang first wedding anniversary noong August 3.

Tatlong buwan na ang ipinagbubuntis ni Rochelle at marami na raw siyang nararanasang pagbabago, kabilang ang mga nakakahiligan niyang kainin ngayon, na dati ay hindi niya gusto, gaya ng hamburger. Matiyaga rin siyang inaalalayan ni Art, gaya ng pagbibigay sa kanya ng salabat tuwing gabi, na nakakatulong upang maibsan ang morning sickness niya. Naaawa daw siya minsan sa asawa niya pag nag-crave siyang kumain ng pagkaing gusto niyang kainin dahil uutusan niya itong bumili gaya ng Chowking siopao o kaya’y lugaw. Ayaw din daw niyang nakikita si Art, at ayaw ding maamoy ang pabango nito, pero gusto niya itong tinatawagan para marinig lang ang boses. Dahil dito, marami ang humuhulang magiging kamukha ng anak nila ang ang tatay nito, na hindi masama dahil guwapo, matangkad at mestizo si Art.

Pinayagan din ng kanyang doctor na magtrabaho pa si Rochelle, kaya nagagampanan pa niya ng maayos ang role niya sa TV series na “Onanay”. Buti na lang daw at hindi kontrabida ang kanyang papel kaya magaan ang kanyang pagtatatrabaho. Pwede pa rin daw siyang magsayaw basta’t hindi ito “buwis-buhay” at may exercises pa rin sa gym na puwede sa kanya.

REGINE, LILIPAT SA ABS CBN?
Malakas ang bulung-bulungan na lilipat na sa ABS CBN si Regine Velasquez pagkatapos ng kanyang show na The Clash ng GMA Network. Magtatapos na sa Sept 30 ang show na isang singing contest, na hino-host ni Regine. Balitang hindi na magre-renew ng kontrata si Regine, at katunayan ay nagpaalam na rin daw ito sa mga kasamahan sa isa pa niyang show na “Sarap Diva”. Tatapusin na lang daw niya ang natitirang episodes nito, bago magpaalam ng tuluyan.

Ilang beses na ring napabalitang lilipat si Regine tuwing magtatapos ang kanyang kontrata sa Kapuso network, pero ngayon ay tila tuloy na tuloy na ito. Isang malaking dahilan marahil ay upang makasama na niya sa isang bakuran ang kanyang asawang si Ogie Alcasid, na ngayon ay muling gumanda ang career dahil muli siyang nabigyan ng pagkakataon na balikan ang kanyang unang hilig, ang pag-awit. Kaya naman naging malaking tagumpay ang kanyang katatapos na anniversary concert, na sinuportahan din ni Regine, mga anak, at matatalik na kaibigan. Bukod dito, lagi pa rin siyang napapanood sa ibang Kapamilya shows, gaya ng ASAP, It’s Showtime, ang katatapos na Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids, at sitcom na Home Sweetie Home.

Nami-miss na rin marahil ni Regine ang umawit at magkaroon ng musical show, dahil mula nang nawala ang musical show na SOP ay wala nang outlet ang mga Kapuso singers. Marami siyang mga dating kasamahan at kasabayang singers ang napapanood pa rin sa ASAP at sa mga shows sa ibang bansa na sa hinaharap ay maari rin niyang makasamang muli.

Nanaisin din siguro ni Regine na muling makagawa ng pelikula, dahil sa ngayon ay isa ang Star Cinema sa mga iilang natitirang film companies na masipag pa ring gumawa ng pelikula.

Sa ngayon, mag-aabang-abang na lang muna ang mga fans ni Songbird kung ano at saan ang susunod niyang project.

PAULO BILANG GREGORIO  DEL PILAR
Excited na si Paulo Avelino dahil mapapanood na sa mga sinehan sa Sept 5 ang kanyang pinakamalaking pelikulang nagawa, ang “Goyo, Ang Batang Heneral”. Gagampanan niya ang papel ng bayani at pinakabatang heneral noong panahon ng digmaan na si Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, na kilala noon sa palayaw na Goyo.

Ito ang pangalawa sa tatlong pelikula na tungkol sa mga bayaning Pilipino sa direksyon ni Jerrold Tarog. Nauna nang ginawa ang Heneral Luna noong 2015 na kumita ng husto kaya nakabawi ang mga producer sa malaking pera na nagastos dito.

Dahil sa tinamo nitong tagumpay ay naglakas-loob muli ang mga producer nito na gumawa pa ng dalawang pelikula, itong Goyo, Ang Batang Heneral; at ang pangatlo na gagawin pa lang, ay tungkol sa dating pangulong Manuel Luis Quezon, na pagbibidahan naman ni Benjamin Alves.

Ang mga producer ay ang TBA Studios, Artikulo Uno at Globe Studios.

Ang iba pang artista sa Goyo ay sina Gwen Zamora bilang Remedios Nable, na girlfriend ni Goyo; Arron Villaflor bilang Joven Hernando, na siyang nagkukuwento; Rafa Siguion Reyna bilang kapatid ni Goyo na si Col. Julian; Carlo Aquino bilang Col. Enriquez na best friend ni Goyo; Mon Confiado bilang Emilio Aguinaldo; Epy Quizon bilang Apolinario Mabini; Alvin Anson bilang Gen. Jose Alejandrino; Empress Shuck bilang Felicidad Aguinaldo; Che Ramos bilang Hilaria Aguinaldo; RK Bagatsing bilang Dr. Simeon Villa;  Matt Evans bilang Lt. Carrasco; Benjamin Alves bilang Manuel Quezon; at marami pang iba.

Sa panayam kay Paulo kamakailan, sana raw ay kumita rin ang Goyo para magkaroon muli ng pondo para sa susunod pang historical movie na gagawin.

Sinabi rin niya na napagod siya ng husto kaya gusto muna niyang magkaroon ng break o mahaba-habang bakasyon pagkatapos ng sampung taong paggawa ng pelikula at sunud-sunod na TV series. Pero hindi pa rin ito mangyayari agad dahil kahit pinatay na ang karakter niya sa Asintado ay kasama na naman siya sa isa pang TV series na General’s Daughter na pagbibidahan ni Angel Locsin at malapit nang mapanood.

Sali na!

Nueva Vizcaya Day 2018
Oct 21 (Sunday), from 10 am
Chater Road, Central
Highlights: Search for Saniata ti Nueva Vizcaya 2018 and Sassy Look International 2018
Organizer: United Nueva Vizcayanos - HK

Caritas Cantonese lessons for EM residents
Caritas Asian Migrant Workers Social Service Project has received sponsorship from the Home Affairs Department to run language courses for ethnic minority residents in HK. The following is the details for your reference.
Saturday Basic Cantonese
    Period : 1 Sept. - 15 Dec. 2018 (16 lessons in total)
   Time   : 10:00 - 13:00 (Total 50 hours)
   Target : Ethnic Minorities in HK with HKID
   Fee     : HK$100 / head including materials (CSSA recipient : HK$50)
   Venue : Caritas Shek Kip Mei Centre. Rm. 107, 1/F, Tai Hang Tung Community Centre, 17 Tong Yam Street, Shek Kip Mei, KLN.       
Sunday Basic Cantonese
   Period : 2 Sept. - 16 Dec. 2018 (16 lessons in total)
   Time   : 10:00 - 13:00 (Total 50 hours)
   Target : Ethnic Minorities in HK with HKID
   Fee     : HK$100 / head including materials (CSSA recipient : HK$50)
   Venue : Caritas Fortress Hill Centre. G/F., No. 28A Fortress Hill Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong.
For inquiries, please call  2147-5988.

Caritas also has the following programs for foreign domestic workers:
Medical Consultation and Acupuncture Services
Sept 16- Oct 21, 10 am – 1pm
$10 minimal fee will be collected)
Occupational Health and Safety Workshop
Sept 16- Nov 25 (6 Sundays in total), 10:30am-12:30pm
$20 minimal fee will be collected
Venue: Caritas Fortress Hill Centre. G/F., No. 28A Fortress Hill Road, Fortress Hill, Hong Kong.
For inquiries, please call  2147-5988.

Licensure Examination for Teachers
The Special Examination for Professional Teachers will be held in Hong Kong on Sept 30, 2018.
The deadline for submitting online applications has passed.
For updates, contact the National Organization of Professional Teachers through Gemma Lauraya, 6169 5181 or the Facebook page of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office

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

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

What's on where?

PUBLIC HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT: 
The Philippine Consulate General and all its attached agencies including POLO will be closed on the following date:
Sept. 25 – Day Following Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (HK)
Oct. 1 – PRC National Day (HK)
Oct 17 – Cheung Yeung Festival (HK)
There will be no official transactions on these dates.
In case of emergency, call: 9155 4023 (Consular assistance),
5529 1880 (POLO), 6345 9324 (OWWA)

CARD HK Entrepreneurship Seminar
Sept 2, whole day
Bayanihan Centre, Kennedy Town
Organized by: CARD HK Foundation
Those interested, please send a message to the Card Hong Kong Foundation Facebook page

Hike for a Cause
For Bethune House Migrant Women’s Shelter and
Sept 2, Assembly time is 8:45-9:15 am at Sai Wan Ho MTR
Destination: Rhino Rock, Stanley
Duration: 1 hour (2km).Difficulty: 7/10, slippery slopes
Please bring your own drinking water.Contact: Jhic Gallema

Silid Sining Pinay: Unlocking Pinay Creativity
Painting Workshop Sessions for OFWs in HK with Filipino artist Grace P. Camacho
Sept 2, 9am-12nn
Oct 7, 9am – 12nn
PCG Gallery
Organized by: PCG with Pitter Painter
Requirements: HKID copy and one 2x2" photo
To register, visit the PCG Cultural Section or email cultural.pcg@gmail.com with subject: “SilidSining”

Idulog Mo Kay Atorni 6
Free Legal Clinic with IBP lawyers
Sept 16, whole day
PCG Conference Room
9-10am, Legal Forum
0-12 Legal Consultation
POLO Training Room
2-3pm, Legal Forum
3-5 pm Legal Consultation
To schedule free consultation, call Nida at 2823 8511 or Joel at 2823 8512

“Sagip Kapwa” Free Fire Safety Classes
First Session: Sept 8 (Saturday) at Tung Lo Wan Fire Station, 111 Victoria Park Rd., Causeway Bay, HK
Second Session: Oct 20 (Saturday) at Wong Tai Sin Fire Station, 28 Fung Tak Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon
Twenty slots are available for each session. Certificates will be given. To register, send your name and mobile phone number by email to gadhongkong@gmail.com with the title: “FIRE”. For other details, check the Philippine Consulate General Facebook page

Hike for a Cause
(Fund-raising for 10-year-old Charlene Kate Lariosa who is suffering from chronic kidney failure)
Sept. 23, 9:30am-11:30am. Route: Peak to Mount High West View. Meeting place: Peak Galleria. Contact: Marites, 5711 1533

FBC’s 7th Anniversary Bowling Party
Oct 7, 10am-4pm, South China Athletic Association Bowling Centre, Causeway Bay
Come in your funny costume, and join the games!
Organizer: Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong
Contact: Jenny 9401 7051

Ang kapalaran mo sa Setyembre

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Magagalit ka sa ilang kaibigan, pero hayaan mo silang magpaliwanag muna bago ka magalit nang todo;  hindi mo pagsisisihan ang  pagiging maunawain. Dahil ikaw ay malikhain, ang pinakamahirap na gawain ay magagampanan mo ng maayos, ng higit pa sa inaasahan. Sari-saring problema ang mararanasan, kulang sa lambing ang asawa mo, problemado ka sa mga anak, ang mga kasamahan ay nabawasan ang kabaitan, at maging ang bayarin ay mas dumami pa! Lucky numbers: 9, 17, 25 at 43.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Kumalma ka, mas lalo mong pinalalala ang simpleng bagay, at kalat-kalat ang isip mo kaya nalilimutan mo na ang totoong hangad mo. Iwasan ang labis na pag-iisip sa mga bagay na gustong -gusto mong gawin, pero kulang ka naman sa aksyon. Malaking bagay na maswerte ka sa panahong ito. Gagaan din ang buhay dahil sa mga kaibigang handang tumulong sa iyo. Makakatulong ng malaki ang pakikilahok sa mga grupo at asosasyon. Lucky numbers: 18, 22, 33 at 45.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Makakaranas ng problema sa tahanan, posibleng alitan sa magulang o anak, ng dahil sa iba’t ibang dahilan. Maging malumanay sa lahat ng oras. Sa love life, makakaramdam ng pagkasakal sa relasyon; upang maagapan ito, subukang makipag-usap ng maayos sa kapartner. Kilala ka sa katapatan mo, pero huwag ka nang umasa na ang lahat ng kakilala mo ay magiging matapat din sa iyo. Lucky numbers: 11, 36, 37, 40 at 42.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Magkakaroon ng malaking pagbabago sa relasyon; pag-ibig sa unang pagkikita, mabigat na problema o biglang pagbabago ng damdamin. Mahaharap din sa sitwasyon na maaring pagmulan ng maraming katanungan, o gumawa ng mahalagang desisyon. Ingatan ang kalusugan, madali kang mapagod at mahihirapan kang gumaling agad sa sakit. Wala kang magagawa kundi harapin ang mga bagay na kinaiinisan mo sa trabaho. Lucky numbers: 1, 15, 26 at 39. 

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Mabubulabog ang pagsasama at pamilya. Piliting kontrolin ang sarili dahil alam mong wala kang panalo sa laban kung hindi ka handa. Gamitin ang sentido kumon at mag-dahan-dahan sa halip na daanin sa pwersa at biglaan ang gusto mong makamit. Mahina ang resistensya mo ngayon kaya madali kang kapitan ng sipon, ubo at ibang sakit. May swerteng dulot ang pagta-travel at negosyo sa ibang bayan. Lucky numbers: 6, 19, 20 at 40.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Hindi mo alam kung saan nagmumula ang pagiging iritable at mainitin ang ulo mo sa panahong ito. Mahihirapan kang magtrabaho ng may kasama o ka-grupo, pero kailangang gawin mo ito. Dagdagan ang pasensya at tiisin ang kalagayan; magbubunga rin ito ng maganda. Posibleng makaranas ng panlalabo ng mata sanhi ng pagod. Lucky numbers: 12, 20, 29 at 31.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Gaganahan ka sa trabaho kaya sasamantalahin mo na maraming magawa sa panahong ito.  May pagkakataon kang makasali sa pagtitipon o asosasyon, sundin ang hilig mo. Tamang panahon para sa malakihang pamumuhunan dahil mataas ang kumpiyansa mo sa sarili at hindi ka mag-aatubiling humingi ng pabor sa mga kakilala. Magi-enjoy ka ng husto sa piling ng kapartner kaya gusto mong magpakasaya sa pamamasyal. Lucky numbers: 14, 28, 37 at 41.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Magpakita ng kabaitan sa karelasyon at pamilya dahil kapag kumilos ka ng hindi maganda, kahit pa alam mong tama ka, ay magdudulot lang ito ng gulo. Mababawasan ang pagiging maaksaya at gastador mo at mas magiging mas maingat dahil gusto mong makaiwas sa malaking problema. Tamang panahon na mag-invest sa bahay at lupa. Kulang ka sa kumpiyansa sa sarili; para sa iyong kabutihan, alamin mo kung paano magagamit ang magaganda mong katangian. Lucky numbers: 7, 13, 28 at 43.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Hindi maganda ang pasok ng linggong ito sa iyo, na parang may pumipigil sa iyong pagsisikap kaya lalo kang pinanghihinaan ng loob. Ang marangya, komportableng buhay at magagandang bagay ang pagkakagastusan mo ng husto sa kagustuhang mapasaya ang sarili. Mahihirapan kang makibagay at lagi kang may sumpong kaya marami ang umiiwas sa iyo. Huwag hayaang may makialam sa personal mong buhay, bawasan ang pagsasalita at maging maingat. Lucky numbers: 5, 16, 27 at 45. 

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Sundin ang kutob mo dahil malaki ang tsansang tama ito, at mapaghahandaan mo ang magiging galaw ng kalaban. May abilidad kang mapaniwala agad ang iba sa iyong kuwento, kaya kung hihingi ka ng dagdag sahod ay malamang na mapagbigyan ito ng walang tanong-tanong. Ang alitan sa pamilya ay madaling malulutas kung ang bawa’t isa ay magiging kalmado at maingat sa pananalita. Lucky numbers: 17, 22, 34 at 42.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
Kaya mong maging magiliw at palakaibigan na makakatulong upang dumami ang kakilala at kaibigan at mapanatili rin ang saya sa pamilya. Ingatan ang mga ngipin. Mapipilitan kang magtrabaho sa isang mainit na sitwasyon kahit hindi mo gusto, pero manatiling kalmado. Marami kang matutuhan at titibay ang loob mo sa ganitong sitwasyon, na magagamit mo upang maabot ang iyong ambisyon. Lucky numbers: 23, 25, 31 at 38.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
Mahihirapan ka sa maraming bagay. Kung alam mong damay ka, manahimik ka lang muna kesa lumaban pa. Sa paglipas ng panahon, magiging kalmado rin ang lahat at wala ka nang idadaing pa. Iwasang bilangin pa ang mga nakarelasyon. Huwag sagarin ang pasensya ng pamilya dahil sa paiba-iba ng isip mo. Magtatrabaho ka ng husto upang maabot ang pangarap, pero mahalaga pa rin ang relasyon mo sa pamilya. Lucky numbers: 3, 18, 37 at 39.

NGOs upset at gov’t reply to UN queries on discrimination in HK

The NGO delegates to the UN Hearing in Geneva upon arrival in Hong Kong.

By Vir B. Lumicao

A group of NGO representatives to the 96th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it was “very disappointed” at the Hong Kong government’s failure to respond to issues raised by the committee.

The 12-member group went to Geneva on Aug 6 to present submissions from 54 Hong Kong NGOs to committee members before its hearings on the reports submitted by the governments of China, Hong Kong and Macau on Aug 10 and 13.

The lobbyists led by Law Yuk-kai of  Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor; Phyllis Cheung of Hong Kong Unison and former legislator Emily Lau, came home unhappy at the way the government responded to the committee’s questions.        “The reply did not reflect the actual situation, the reply was very limited. …we are very disappointed at how the government responded. It did not respond at all to the issues,” said Lau, who is also from the Human Rights Monitor.

Lau said that instead of answering the questions raised by the committee, Undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Andy Chan only waved a sheaf of paper and told the committee that the government’s responses can be found in certain paragraphs of the prepared responses.

Law Yuk-kai said it remains doubtful if the Hong Kong government is sincerely responding to international human rights protection.

“The government simply avoided questions and refused to provide updates on progress made since the key recommendations made by the committee in 2009,” Law said.

He told The SUN that Chan and his delegation went to the hearings with a set of responses
done at the last minute and handed out only halfway into the session.

“That kind of attitude is less serious,” Law said. “We can even say that this is an omen to us, because it shows us that our government doesn’t take the international human rights mechanism seriously.”

Cheung for her part said the government’s response was “very insincere”.  She said the committee would come out with its written observations on Hong Kong’s response to the recommendations by Aug 30 or 31. “We hope the government will actually take a look at the recommendations. It will be very  embarrassing for the government if these recommendations are the same as they posted in 2009. That means nothing has moved in the past nine years and it will be very embarrassing for the government,” Cheung said.

In the meetings, the delegation members said they had in-depth discussions with the committee, briefing it on key issues of concern in the situation of racial discrimination in Hong Kong and the inadequacy of protections against it.

They said committee members followed up with great interest the institutional safeguards of human rights, such as the role of the Equal Opportunities Commission, its  effectiveness, as well as the effectiveness of the Race Discrimination Ordinance and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

The delegates said on the first day of hearing on Aug 10, committee members aired their concern about five areas of racial discrimination in Hong Kong.These are 1) the slow progress on the reform of the EOC and the Race Discrimination Ordinance to address numerous flaws embedded in both; 2) education policies towards ethnic minorities; 3) institutional racial discrimination faced by migrant domestic workers on multiple fronts; 4) the inadequacy of measures to combat human trafficking; and 5) the screening mechanism for non-refoulement claimants.

HK govt defends 14-day, live-in rule for foreign helpers

Hong Kong will continue to require terminated foreign helpers to leave within two weeks and compel them to live with their employers to curb illegal work and maintain tight immigration control, the government has told a UN committee meeting in Geneva.

The statement was made by Undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Andy Chan, in his address to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination meeting in Geneva on Aug 10 and 13

HK gov't says FDWs already enjoy rights and protection.

Chan led a government delegation to answer the committee’s queries on issues about discrimination and human rights in Hong Kong at the quadrennial meeting.

Chan said under Hong Kong labor laws, foreign helpers enjoy the same rights and protection as local workers in terms of rest days, paid statutory holidays and annual leave,  sickness allowance, maternity protection, severance and long service payments. He said Hong Kong has no legislation concerning working hours.

He also said the foreign helpers get further protection from the Standard Employment Contract which provides for a Minimum Allowable Wage, free accommodation, free food (or food allowance), free medical care and free passage to/from their places of origin.

Chan said those benefits are not necessarily available to local workers.

But at the same time, it has been Hong Kong’s policy that local workers are given priority in jobs, and labor importation should be allowed only if the post cannot be filled by local workers.

Chan’s claims were denounced as lies by Johan Tong of the Mission for Migrant Workers, who also called the government’s response “disappointing.”

Tong was speaking at a press conference held shortly after arriving with other NGO representatives who flew to Geneva on Aug 6 to attend the UN meeting.

“They stressed that everything is legitimate and acceptable…they tried to justify the two-week rule is very necessary for immigration control and they tried to assume that all migrant domestic workers work illegally or commit job-hopping if they live out,” Tong said.

She also hit out at the government’s claim that there was no shortage of local domestic workers.

“They say that there is no shortage in live-out local domestic workers. It’s not true. It’s just that it’s very expensive for local people to hire local domestic helpers. And, of course, no one would like to live in. So this was how they twisted the answers to justify and legitimize the policies,” Tong said.
– Vir B. Lumicao

Labatt suspends agency, helps DH recover bulk of illegal fee she paid

By Vir B. Lumicao 

A Hong Kong employment agency has been suspended by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office for acting as a sub-agent of a local agency that had allegedly charged a newly arrived Filipina helper a $12,500 “placement fee.”

Labor Attaché Nida Romulo interviews a complainant.

An official of the suspended agency also returned $5,000 of the $7,500 that Ronalyn Nisperos had already paid, and handed back her passport during a meeting in the office of Labor Attaché Nida Romulo on Aug 19.

Romulo did not identify the agency that had stamped (or allowed its name to be used) in the employment contract of Nisperos, but the domestic worker named it as Top Wealth Employment Agency, which has its offices in Blissful Building on Des Voeux Road, Central.

The owner of Vast Sky Employment Ltd, which placed Nisperos in Hong Kong on Apr 11, did not show up at the Polo meeting.

“We suspended the processing of contracts from that agency (Top Wealth) on the very day the worker came here to file a complaint,” said Romulo in an interview. “It acted as a sub-agent and the owner knows that is against the undertaking that it had signed with Polo,” she said.

Romulo would not say how long the suspension would be, saying that will be determined by her superiors.

She said workers who are overcharged by agencies should not be afraid to come out and file a complaint at POLO.

“We will act immediately against any agency once we receive a complaint,” she said.

An amendment in February this year of laws governing employment agencies in Hong Kong has criminalized the overcharging of placement fees, with the maxium penalty set at three years imprisonment and fine of up to $350,000.

Nisperos complained to POLO on Aug 12 that Vast Sky had demanded that she pay $5,000 by Aug 14, on top of the $7,500 that she had already paid. She told Romulo that she paid the agency $2,500 cash upfront in Manila, and made two monthly payments of $2,500 each to the agency when she arrived in Hong Kong.

Nisperos also told Romulo that the agency had kept her passport as a security for the illegal fees.

A check by Romulo found out that Vast Sky, which operates from Seven Seas Shopping Centre in North Point, was not accredited by Polo. On finding that Top Wealth had stamped the worker’s contract, Romulo called the company’s representative to her office.

She also advised the worker that she can report Vast Sky to the Employment Agency Administration for over-charging and keeping her travel document.

When Polo called up an executive of Vast Sky to tell him about the complaint, he in turn rang Nisperos and told her how upset he was about her move. The worker said the agency representative had offered to waive the remaining $5,000 and invited her to the agency on Aug 19 to settle the issue, but Romulo told the worker not to go.  “We’ll ask them to come here, don’t go to the agency,” Romulo said.

The agency executive also reportedly contacted Nisperos' employer to tell him about the worker’s complaint. But instead of siding with the agency, the male employer told the helper not to worry because he knew the payment was illegal.

Labatt Jolly set to return to HK

By Daisy CL Mandap

The combined voices of Filipino migrant workers have been heard. Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre, whose unceremonious and unjustified recall to Home Office in April sparked widespread protests within the Filipino community in Hong Kong, is about to come back.

The only question now is, when?

Labor Attache Jalilo de la Torre

“My papers are already with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs)”,  was all that Labatt dela Torre said in response to a message asking when he expected to be back in Hong Kong.

But that could be soon as late this month, or early September. Once the DFA, through the Philippine Consulate, passes on his papers to the Hong Kong government, it will be only a matter of days before Dela Torre gets the go signal to reclaim his post.

According to his temporary replacement, Labor Attache Leonida Romulo, she is herself already preparing to move to another post. Insiders at the Department of Labor and Employment in Manila say Romulo will be posted to Malaysia where she’s expected to remain until her retirement by next year.

Also on the way out is Assistant Labor Attache Ma Nena German, who had cracked down on Dela Torre’s supporters when she was made officer-in-charge for three months after his recall. German will reportedly spend the last four months of her extended term in Taiwan.

Romulo, who took over the top labor post only last month, said there will be a short overlap between her and Dela Torre. “I will stay until Labatt Jolly returns because there should be an official turnover,” she said

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III sent her here to take up the labor attache’s post after dela Torre was recalled a full year before his tour of duty was supposed to end.

Secretary Bello’s letter dated Mar 23 did not give any reason for the recall, but merely said Dela Torre was to report back to the Home Office “effective immediately”. He was also instructed to turn over all money, properties, equipment and accountable forms to German, indicating the recall was final.

The order sparked widespread criticism within the Filipino community in Hong Kong, and caused two big protests to be staged, calling on Bello to revoke the order against the highly regarded labor attaché.

In response to a petition from migrant leaders, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano both assured the community Dela Torre would get to keep his post.

But with Bello standing firm on his recall order, Dela Torre was forced to return home in mid-April. The two met in Manila about a month later, during which Bellore portedly told his labor attache to write a letter admitting that he instigated the protests against his recall, and apologize.

The news that Dela Torre is on his way back to reclaim his post was greeted with joy and relief by the Filcom leaders who joined the protests against his recall.

Rodelia Villar, leader of the Domestic Workers Corner, said rogue employment agencies have been on a roll since Dela Torre left. “Four months pa lang ang dami nang nabiktima (na domestic workers),” she said.

Villar also said Dela Torre’s return showed how unity among leaders could bring about a desired result.

Eman Villanueva of United Filipinos in Hong Kong said his group is looking forward to meeting with Dela Torre again.

“We are eager to meet with him upon his return. Maraming mga dapat na mapag-usapan na mga concerns ng community na nais namin maihapag sa kanya for POLO’s intervention. One of which ay ang illegal collection ng mga agencies. Gusto din namin syang kausapin tungkol sa mga issues addressed to the HKSAR government. We are confident na gagawa sya ng mga concrete steps para suportahan ang kampanya ng mga OFWs for reforms sa ating working and living condition dito sa HK kagaya ng kanyang ginawa noon sa issue ng window cleaning,” said Villanueva.

For Aura Ablin of Mindanao Workers Federation, the four months that the labor attache was forced to wait it out in Manila while Bello decided on his fate was a lot of time lost.

“Sana yong apat na buwan na pagkawala ni Labatt de la Torre dito ay ibalik yon by extending his term. Ang daming nabinbin na mga programa para sa kapakanan ng mga OFWs dito sa HK and six months is too short to do it all.” said Ablin.

Villanueva suggested a new petition could be made to ask for Dela Torre’s extension way beyond the six months remaining in his three-year-term.

To this day, the reason for Dela Torre’s recall remains unclear. But recent reports suggest  Bello might have been telling the truth when he told Manila reporters that the order to get dela Torre packing came directly from Malacanang. Apparently, a Hong Kong agency owner whose wife is from Davao had approached President Rodrigo Duterte directly to complain about Dela Torre, who had been bearing down heavily on errant recruiters.

It did not help that a group of Hong Kong recruiters who bring in Filipinas to work as bar girls in Wanchai were also up in arms over Dela Torre’s rejection of their job orders, depriving them of lucrative commissions.

Dela Torre had said that he was surprised by his recall, as he was not aware that he was being investigated. He maintained that he didn’t have any problems getting marching orders, but didn’t want to go under a cloud of doubt.

Bello later on said Dela Torre’s recall was temporary and was meant to allow him to defend himself against the accusations made against him.

Asked for his reaction to the protests in support of his top Hong Kong man, Bello said, “I respect their right to air their grievance but they (also) have to respect our mgt (management)/ procedural due proess”.

The recall attracted extensive media coverage because of the widespread support given to Dela Torre by migrant workers who often cite as reasons his uncompromising stance against illegal recruitment and human trafficking.

OFW, babalikan ng kaso ang among nagpaaresto sa kanya

Ni Rodelia Villar

Madaling araw ng ika-25 ng Agosto nang tumawag ng pulis ang amo ni Liza Panabe, 46, taga Iloilo City, para ipahuli siya dahil nagnakaw siya diumano ng sleeping pills, sigarilyo at facial mask.

Nang dumating ang mga pulis ay itinuro ng amo ang isang bag na itim ni Panabe na naglalaman ng 17 piraso na facial mask, 30 pirasong sleeping pills at dalawang kaha ng sigarilyo. Agad naming itinanggi ni Panabe na kinuha niya ang mga gamit dahil ni hindi siya gumagamit ng mga ito. Pilit nga daw siyang binibigyan ng amo ng facial mask pero ayaw niyang tanggapin dahil nang minsang sinubukan niya ay nangati ang mukha hiya. Lalong hindi siya naninigarilyo at an amo niya ang madalas magpabili sa kanya nito.

Wong Tai Sin police station.  Googke Maps photo.

Ayon pa kay Panabe, ang amo niya ang may problema dahil adik ito sa marijuana at minsan ay hindi ito nakakatulog ng dalawang araw matapos humitit nito. Ipinakita niya ang mga litrato sa telepono niya ng mga marijuana na ginagamit ng kanyang amo, at pati na rin ang logbook kung saan niya sinusulat ang mga maling trato sa kanya.

Sa bandang huli ay pinagsabihan ng mga pulis ang Pilipina na mag-impake ng mga gamit at umalis na sa bahay ng amo.Tumulong pa ang mga pulis na bitbitin ang mga gamit ni Paneba; gayunpaman ay dinala pa rin siya sa Wong Tai Sin police station para kunan ng pahayag.

Pagdating sa istasyon bandang 2:30 ng umaga ay tinawagan ni Panabe ang kapatid nitong si Mary na isa ding OFW sa Hong Kong at ipinaalam na nasa police station siya. Pagkatapos ay nag message naman siya sa group chat ng Domestic Workers Corner Help Group para humingi ng tulong.

Matapos ito ay hindi na muli nakapag message si Panabe sa grupo, kaya nagdesisyon ang isang ka miyembro niya na si Rain Tuando na tumawag sa Wong Tai Sin police station at doon nila nakumpirma na nandoon nga si Panabe.

Nakailang tawagan pa sina Tuando at mga pulis bago nagkasundong papagpiyansahin ng $100 si Panabe. Pero bandang alas diyes na ng gabi nang siya ay makalabas doon dahil hinintay pa niya ang interpreter na tumulong sa paggawa niya ng pahayag sa pulis.

Bago siya umalis ay binigyan siya ng mga pulis ng takdang araw kung kailangan siyang muling mag report sa istasyon. Pinayuhan din siya na pumunta sa Labour Department para magsampa ng reklamo laban sa amo dahil hindi siya binayaran ng suweldo at kung ano pa ang dapat mapasa-kanya.

Isang linggo bago tumawag ng pulis ang kanyang amo ay medyo kinabahan na ang Pilipina dahil parang naiba na ang takbo ng utak nito, marahil dahil sa sobrang paghitit ng marijuana.

Bago nito, ika-3 ng Hunyo, ay may pumunta ng pulis sa kanilang bahay na may kasamang ambulansya dahil sinaktan umano ng amo ang ina nito. Ang matanda at alaga niyang 16 taong gulang ay kabilang sa mga dahilan kung bakit nagpigil si Taneba sa pag-alis.

Tinangka naman niya na sumangguni sa Philippine Overseas Labor Office pero sinabi daw sa kanya doon na gumawa ng pormal na reklamo laban sa kanyang amo para maaksyunan nila ang kanyang sitwasyon.

Pagkatapos palayain pansamantala ay tumuloy si Taneba sa shelter ng Konsulado, at kinabukasan ay inasikaso nila ng kapatid ang pagsampa ng reklamo sa POLO at Konsulado. Tumuloy din sila sa Help for Domestic Workers para magpatulong sa pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa kanyang amo.

Ayon naman daw sa mga pulis, maari siyang manghingi ng extension sa kanyang visa, at malamang ay payagan na din siya ng Immigration na humanap ng bagong amo sa Hong Kong, nang hindi na kailangan pang umuwi sa Pilipinas.

404 Philippine passports seized from suspected loanshark

By Vir B. Lumicao

A loan sharking operation busted by police in North Point looks to be bigger than initially reported, with more than 400 Philippine passports seized from a Hong Kong man and his Filipina helper who were arrested on Aug 13, a Consulate official said.

The passports were hocked by cash-strapped OFWs for quick loans from the 65-year-old man surnamed Chung.

The helper was arrested when police searched Chung’s flat in North Point for allegedly acting as his runner in the illicit business. A police spokeswoman said both Chung and his helper have been allowed to post bail but were ordered to report back to police in early September.

In an interview, Consul Paulo Saret said a total of 404 passports were recovered during the police operation.

The arrests came more than a month after a 64-year-old man was nabbed by police in a sting operation in Tsuen Wan on July 4 that led to the recovery of about 850 passports, mostly owned by Indonesian workers.

Saret said investigators of the North Point case had requested the ATN for contact details of the passport holders so officers could call and ask them to give police statements. He urged the passport holders to cooperate when the police call them.

Saret, head of the Consulate assistance to nationals section, reminded OFWs they are in Hong Kong to work, not to lend or borrow money.

“Huwag mangutang, huwag naman magpautang, kasi yung iba nagpapautang. Kapag hindi na mabayaran, problemado na, mag-aaway na sila nung nangutang,” Saret said.

He also advised the workers, especially those who need cash urgently, not to use their passports as loan collateral.

“Hindi iyan ang solusyon, madudoble o matitriple ang problema mo once na isinangla mo na ang passport mo. Yung interest mo, 120% per annum. Paano mo mababayaran iyon? At pagdating ng oras, hindi ka maiisyuhan ng passport basta-basta,” he said.   

Police said Chung was arrested at the corner of King’s Road and Shu Kuk St by officers from the Regional Anti-Triad Unit of Hong Kong Island while lending money to two Filipino women aged 29 and 37.

Chung allegedly lent money at 120 percent interest per year, which was twice the legal limit of 60%,  and collected passports and employment contracts as collateral.

The police spokeswoman could not say whether any more suspects had been arrested since
Chung’s arrest as part of the anti-loan-sharking operation codenamed “Sky Scroller and Thunderbolt 18”.

Aside from the passports, $100,000 cash, a laptop computer and two mobile phones, officers seized records of Chung’s illegal transactions.

Other reports said the illicit money lending had been in operation for two years, and targeted mainly Filipino domestic workers on Hong Kong Island.