RICO J. PUNO, 65

Marami ang nagulat sa biglang pagpanaw ng beteranong singer na si Rico J. Puno (Enrico de Jesus Puno ang tunay na pangalan niya), 65, noong madaling araw ng Oct 30, sa St Luke’s Hospital sa Taguig City. Ayon sa kanyang anak na si Tosca Camille Puno- Ramos, atake sa puso ang ikinamatay ng kanyang ama. Masaya pa raw ito noong nakaraang gabi dahil excited sa kanyang shows at shoot para sa station ID ng ABS CBN. 

Kamakailan lang ay laman ito ng mga balita dahil sa paghahanda niya para sa 40th anniversary concert niya, at ang pagpa-file niya ng kandidatura bilang konsehal ng Makati sa susunod na halalan.

Ang huling presscon na dinaluhan niya ay noong Oct 18, para sa concert na “Sana Tatlo Ang Puso Ko” kasama ang sina Marissa Sanchez at Giselle Sanchez. Namataan din siya noong Oct 21 na kasama ang kanyang anak na si Tosca sa Rockwell Powerplant Mall sa Makati City.

Rico J. Puno

Noong 2015 ay sumailalim ang batikang singer sa open heart surgery, at noong December 2017 ay sumailalim sa angioplasty, at kinabitan bagong pacemaker.

Ilan sa mga awiting pinasikat niya ay ang “ Kapalaran”, “Lupa”, “Macho Gwapito”, “May Bukas Pa”, “The Way We Were”. Isa si Rico sa nagpalaganap, at masugid na promoter ng OPM (Original Pilipino Music), at tuloy-tuloy ang kanyang pag-awit sa mga ibat ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas, at ibang bansa.  May sarili siyang tatak, ang pagkakaroon ng baong “green jokes” sa kanyang sa mga shows, na kinaaliwan ng kanyang manonood.

Hindi lang isang mahusay na singer si Rico dahil siya ay naging TV host, actor-comedian at pulitiko. Naging konsehal siya ng mahabang panahon sa Makati at tumakbo ring vice mayor, pero natalo siya. Noong nakaraang buwan ay muli siyang nagdesisyong tumakbo bilang konsehal. 

Bumuhos ang pakikiramay ng mga kaibigan at kasamahan sa industriya sa pagyao ni Rico. Kabilang na rito sina Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Sharon Cuneta, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jessa Zaragoza, Jhong Hilario at marami pang iba,

NORA, NA- ISNAB ULI BILANG NAT’L ARTIST
Noong Oct 24, inilabas ng Malacanang ang listahan ng mga pangalan ng mga bagong hirang na National Artists. Ito ay kinabibilangan nina  Francisco Manosa (Architecture), movie director Eric de Guia, na kilala bilang “Kidlat Tahimik” (films), Ramon Muzones at Resil Mojares (Literature), Ryan Cayabyab (Music), Amelia Lapena Bonifacio (Theater), at Lauro “Larry” Alcala (Visual Arts). Pangungunahan ni Pangulong Duterte ang paggawad ng parangal sa mga bagong National Artists.

Ang mga awardees ay tatanggap ng titulong National Artist, gintong medalya na gawa ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), citation at panghabang-buhay na benepisyo na hindi nalalayo sa tinatanggap ng mga nasa matataas na puwesto sa pamahalaan. Ang mga buhay na awardees ay tatanggap ng Php200,000 (net of taxes) na cash award, lifetime monthly allowance na hindi bababa sa Php50,000, medical at hospitalization benefits hanggang Php750,000 kada taon, life insurance policy mula sa GSIS o private insurance companies mula sa araw ng pagtanggap ng award, state funeral, place of honor sa mga state functions, national commemoration ceremonies at cultural presentations. Sa mga posthumous awardees, tatatanggap ang kanilang pamilya ng one-time cash award na hindi bababa sa Php150,000. 

Samantala, dismayadong muli ang fans ni Nora Aunor nang hindi na naman napasali ang pangalan ng mahusay na aktres sa mga napili. Ilang taon na rin naman nilang ipinaglalaban na maibigay kay Nora ang karangalang ito dahil para sa kanila, wala nang makakapantay sa husay nito sa pag-arte. Noong 2014, tinanggal din ni dating pangulong Benigno Aquino III. ang pangalan ni Nora sa listahan ng awardees dahil daw sa drug issue na kinasangkutan niya.  Ang paliwanag ni PNoy noon: “Sa aking pananaw yung national artist binibigyan natin ng honor na ito, puri, na ito ay malaki ang ambag sa lahing Pilipino at dapat tularan “.  “ Ang naging problema ko lang dun ay alam naman natin lahat…na-convict po sya sa drugs, “  ang dagdag pa niya.

Bilang reaksyon sa muling pag-iisnab sa kanya, nagpahatid ng mahabang mensahe si Nora. Ang bahagi ng kanyang mensahe:  “Muli, sa administrasyon ni Duterte nagkaroon na naman ng deliberation para sa hihiranging mga National Artist.  Automatic na ang pangalang Nora Aunor sabi ng NCCA sa listahan ng tatanghaling National Artist . Hindi na ako kasama sa deliberation dahil dapat noong panahon pa ni PNoy ay dapat daw ay ipinagkaloob na sa akin ang NA pero hindi nangyari. Dito ngayon sa administrasyon ni Duterte ay naulit uli ang pagtanggal ng pangalang Nora Aunor sa listahan ng National Artist.  Tinanong  ko na naman ang sarili ko. Ano ba ang NATIONAL ARTIST?  Ano ang criteria ng NCCA at CCP para gawing National Artist ang  isang tao? Bakit pa nila ako isinali rito kung  hindi naman ako pala ako karapat dapat?. Kailangan bang sumipsip ka sa administrasyon para ipagkaloob sa iyo kahit hindi dapat na maging sa iyo?

“Tulad ng sinabi ko dati pa ay kung maging  National Artist man ako o hindi ay tuloy  pa rin ang takbo ng BUHAY natin.  Laking pasasalamat ko sa DIYOS  na nakapagtrabaho pa rin ako ngayon at binigyan ako ng mga totoong mga tagahanga , ilang mga kaibigan na tunay na nagmamalasakit , nagtatanggol at nagmamahal ng walang katapusan. Nalungkot lang ako at sumama ang loob ko para sa mga Noranians at mga kaibigan na nagtulung-tulong, naniniwala at nakikipaglaban sa akin mula pa sa Tawag Ng Tanghalan hanggang  ngayon. Ilang years na ba? 51 years na ang nakakaraan.

“Sa mga minamahal Kong mga Noranians, mga kaibigan sa press na nagmamahal pa  rin sa akin, hayaan  na natin ang nangyari.  Kung para sa atin ipagkakaloob din iyan ng  Diyos sa tamang panahon at kung hindi para sa atin kahit anong pilit ang gawin natin Hindi NIYA ito ibibigay. Mas lalo kayong magkaisa,  magkasundo, at magmahalan. Nadudurog ang puso ko para sa inyo. Kalimutan muna po natin iyan. Magmove-on na po tayo at  magsimula  po tayo uli para sa ating magandang layunin para sa ating kapwa.  Ang ONANAY muna ang tanging maialay ko sa inyo na  huwag kalilimutang panoorin.  Iniaalay namin ito para sa inyo.  MAHAL NA MAHAL ko kayong lahat.”

REGINE, NAPIKON SA BASHERS 
Umalma na si Regine Velasquez sa mga taong patuloy na naninira sa kanya sa social media, mula nang lumipat siya sa ABS CBN pagkatapos ng dalawang dekadang pagta-trabaho sa GMA Network. Itinaon pa ang mga sunud-sunod na batikos sa kanyang unang paglabas sa Kapamilya TV shows nitong Linggo, sa ASAP at Gandang Gabi Vice (GGV), kaya halata ang pagkairita ng Asia’s Songbird nang sagutin ang mga ito.

Noong una ay malumanay pang sumagot si Regine ng “my dear, mag-ingat ka sa mga sinasabi mo”, pero patuloy pa rin daw ang pamba-bash sa kanya. “Again WORDS ARE VERY POWERFUL. hindi porket hindi ako nagsasalita eh ok lang na bastusin nyo ko. Hindi kayo ang iniwan ko! Can someone enligh­ten me about cyber crime please. I think it’s about time we put these kinds of people to jail. You think it’s only words that you don’t really hurt us well you’re wrong. #NoToCyberBullying. Dapat hindi na ito pinapalampas hindi natututo eh sobra na. Can you ima­gine if this is our kids! Oh my gosh! Kung ako ang tanda ko naaapektuhan pano pa yung mga bata. Please someone help me with this. Just want to make this clear hindi ako pumapatol, I want to teach these people a lesson. #NoToCyberBullying,” ang sunod-sunod na tweets ni Regine. Pahabol niya pa: “Now guys bullying the bully is NOT the solution. But I am going to do something about this. So help me GOD.”

Sunud-sunod naman na nagbigay suporta ang malalapit sa kanya, tulad nina Ogie Alcasid, Zsazsa Padilla, Daryl Ong, Angeline Quinto, Erik Santos, Jed Madela, Yeng Constantino at Angelu de Leon.

Marami sa mga fans ng Kapuso network ang aminadong sumama ang loob kay Regine nang nagdesisyon itong maging Kapamilya, dahil isa si Regine sa pinakamahusay na talent ng GMA. Alam nilang lalong lalakas ang mga programang sasalihan nito at matatalo sa ratings ang mga katapat na programa ng GMA. Noong Linggo, nag-trending ang unang pagsabak niya sa ASAP, na taped mula sa kanilang naging show sa Australia. Kinagabihan ay pinag-usapan din ang paggi-guest niya sa Gandang Gabi Vice (GGV).

Pero, taliwas sa inaasahan, naglabas ng datos nitong Lunes ang AGB Nielsen na nagsasaad na tinalo sa ratings ng Sunday Pinasaya at Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) ang mga programang nilabasan ni Regine sa ABS CBN.

Naglabas din ng mensahe si Regine: “Dear bashers, congratulations to everyone in SPS & KMJS and I’m happy that you guys are happy. But just a suggestion, total, sinasabi nyong lahat na hindi ako kailangan ng GMA, sinabihan nyo nga ako na wala akong utang na loob, wala akong loyalty (apparently, 20 years cannot be considered being loyal), na mukha akong pera. Maybe you guys can stop insulting me, my husband and my son. Lumipat lang po ako ng network, hindi ako pumatay ng tao. Again, I’m grateful for my 20 years in GMA. I made a lot of friends there and I have great memories of being a Kapuso. Tutal naman po, nayurakan nyo nang bonggang bongga ang pagkatao ko na para bang may nagawa akong masama sa inyo personally.You guys obviously hate me, gets ko na po. Gets ko rin na hindi nyo papanoorin ang mga shows na gagawin ko sa ABS, tanggap ko na po yon at wala naman pong pilitan ito. Free TV po ito, walang bayad, we are all here to provide you entertainment for free!!, So sa madaling salita, kayo ang panalo dito. Nagmamahal, Kapamilya Regine.”

Sa ngayon ay pinaghahandaan din ni Regine ang concert niyang “Regine at The Movies” na gaganapin sa Nov 17, 24 at 25 sa New Frontier Theater (dating Kia Theater). Siya rin ang kakanta ng theme song ( komposisyon ni Ogie) ng bagong TV series ni Angel Locsin na “The General’s Daughter” na malapit nang ipalabas.

Ang una niyang TV project maliban sa ASAP, ay ang bagong edition ng “Philippine Idol”, kung saan isa siya sa tatayong judges. 

DEREK, MAGIGING KAPUSO NA 
Inamin ni Derek Ramsay na nakikipag-usap sila sa ilang top executives ng GMA Network sa posibleng paglipat niya dito. May mga inalok na raw na mga projects sa kanya, kasama na ang TV series na pagtatambalan nila ni Jennylyn Mercado. Gusto raw ni Derek ang nasabing project dahil dalawang beses na rin naman niyang naging leading lady si Jen sa pelikula, na maganda naman ang mga naging resulta. Pero nakikiusap daw siya na kung sakaling matuloy ito, sana raw ay sa susunod na taon na ito simulan.

Si John Estrada na matalik na kaibigan ni Derek ang isa raw sa humikayat sa kanya na lumipat na rin sa GMA7, kaya malaki ang tsansa na maging Kapuso na rin siya.
Si Derek ay dating Kapamilya actor bago lumipat sa TV5, at nakasama rin niya dito sina Aga Muhlach, Ogie Alcasid, Sharon Cuneta, Janno Gibbs at Willie Revillame, na isa-isa na ring nag-alisan.   

POKWANG, EDDIE GARCIA, PANALO SA QCINEMA FILMFEST
Tinanghal na best picture ang pelikulang “Oda sa Wala”, sa ginanap na 2018 QCINEMA International Film Festival (QCIFF).  Bukod dito, nanalo ring best director si Dwein Baltazar at best actress si Pokwang (gamit ang tunay na pangalan na Marietta Subong) para sa nasabing pelikula.

Si Eddie Garcia ay tinanghal na best actor para sa pelikulang “Hintayan sa Langit”, na nakakuha ng Audience Choice award.

Best supporting actor si Marcus Adoro ( Dog Days) at best supporting actress si Cielo Aquino ( Billie and Emma). 

Ang QCIFF ang nag-iisang international film festival na ginaganap sa Pilipinas. Ang QCIFF 2018 ay bahagi rin ng selebrasyon ng 100 years ng Philippine Cinema, at ipinalabas ang mga pelikulang kasali noong October 24- 30, 2018.

Ano ang hatid ng Nobyembre

ASO. Isinilang noong 1922/34/46/58/70/82/94/06
Makakagawa ka ng magagandang bagay, kasama ang mga kaibigan. Kung magbibiyahe, pag-aralang mabuti kung kakayanin mo ang gastos. Maswerte ka ngayon dahil matutupad ang gusto mo, pero mag-ingat na masira ang relasyon dahil lang sa pagbitaw ng maling salita. Dobleng ingat sa nagmamaneho o paggamit ng delikadong kasangkapan. Kung pipirma ng kontrata, ipagpaliban muna ito ng dalawang araw. Lucky numbers: 7, 19, 26 at 40.

BABOY. Isinilang noong 1923/35/47/59/71/83/95/07
Maging alerto, huwag magpaloko sa mga inaalok na pampapayat o gamit na magbibigay- swerte sa pag-ibig at pera. May mga itatanong sa iyo tungkol sa trabaho na hindi naman pagmumulan ng away, pero mapipikon ka. Subukang mas maging open o prangka sa pakikipag-usap sa mga kasamahan at bagay-bagay dahil sa totoo lang, hindi ka madaling pakisamahan. Lucky numbers: 19, 22, 33 at 46.

DAGA. Isinilang noong 1924/36/48/60/72/84/96/08
Hirap kang mag-isip at mag-focus ngayon. Gawin na lang muna ang mga bagay na nakaka-inip at paulit-ulit na trabaho dahil kabisado mo na ito. Nanaisin mong mag-iba na ng trabaho at gawin ang mga bagay na talagang gusto mo at magagamit ng husto ang iyong talento, pero tandaan na hindi lahat ng oras ay magagawa mo ang gusto mo. Susubukan mong balikan ang magandang alaala ng nakaraan; ibaon na ito sa limot, huwag hayaang maapektuhan pa nito ang iyong buhay. Lucky numbers: 17, 24, 31 at 41.

BAKA. Isinilang noong 1925/37/49/61/73/85/97/09
Masyado kang emosyonal, at nakakaramdam ng biglaang saya at at bigla ring malalim na kalungkutan kaya hindi ka makapag-isip ng maayos. Hindi mahirap ang sitwasyong ito, pero sa isang banda, hindi ka mababagot sa buhay. Maganda ang kalagayang pinansyal, at hindi inaasahang pera ang darating, kaya makakapag-enjoy ka ngayon. Lucky numbers: 9, 16, 37 at 42.

TIGRE Isinilang noong 1926/38/50/62/74/86 at 98/10
Matutukso kang sumubok na makipaglaro sa pag-ibig; huwag itong seryosohin dahil mabigat ang kapalit nito. Sa hirap ng ekonomiya sa ating bansa ngayon, mag-ingat ng husto na mabiktima pa ng mga manloloko at mandaraya. Takot at lungkot ang madarama sa pag-iisip tungkol sa kamatayan, sakit, kalungkutan at kabiguan; huwag hayaang sirain nito ang pananaw mo sa hinaharap. Lucky numbers: 15, 29, 30 at 44.

KUNEHO Isinilang noong 1927/39/51/63/75/87/99
Bantayan ang mga baraha mo. Mag-ingat sa mga taong itinuturing ka lang na kaibigan habang may pakinabang sa iyo. Maswerte ka sa panahong ito. Mahalagang bagay ang magaganap sa relasyon. Tapat kang magmahal at ipaglalaban mo ang iyong karapatan. Limitahin ang pangangailangan, kung hindi ay lagi ka na lang maghahabol para sa mga bagay na gusto mo, kaya hindi mo nae-enjoy ang ibang bahagi ng buhay. Lucky numbers: 11, 13, 26 at 45.

 DRAGON Isinilang noong 1928/40/52/64/76/88/00
Hindi ka gaanong masaya sa resulta ng isang mahalagang okasyon. Masyado kang umasa na maayos ang lahat pero atrasado ang maraming bagay. Mahalaga sa iyo ang relasyon, kaya samantalahin ito para masabi ang mga kahilingan o tapusin agad ang ugnayan kung hindi magkakasundo. Ang labis na tensyon at pag-aalala ang nagdudulot ng pananakit ng ulo, pagkahilo, lagnat at paninigas ng mukha at bibig. Lucky numbers: 3, 18, 26 at 40.

AHAS Isinilang noong 1929/41/53/65/77/89/01
Masaya ka sa mga araw na ito, may magandang sorpresa at maraming tawanan. May makikilala ka sa pamamasyal o pag-travel sa ibang bansa, na isang banyaga o taong nagbabalik- bayan. Makakaranas ng pagkapagod dahil sa kabiguan, mga gusto mong makamit at mga balakid, lalo na sa iyong trabaho. Sa trabaho, sports o ibang bagay, iwasan ang sobra, dahil sasakit ang iyong katawan. Lucky numbers: 16, 18, 24 at 41.

KABAYO. Isinilang noong 1930/42/54/66/78/90/02
Magiging maayos ang lahat para sa iyo. Susubukan mong baguhin ang estado sa lipunan at maging handa sa mga gastusin upang mas maging maayos ang kalagayan at maging ang panlabas na anyo ay kakitaan ng kasaganaan. Pero kailangan mo rin ng kontrol para maiwasan ang problema sa pera. Masaya ang relasyon ngayon dahil mababawasan ang tensyon. Lucky numbers: 5, 11, 19 at 32.

KAMBING. Isinilang noong 1919/31/43/55/67/79/91/03
Maganda ang pananaw mo sa lahat ng bagay, walang alalahanin o kalungkutan, at lahat ay parang madali at masaya. Subukang mapanatili ito upang maging positibo ka pa rin pagdating ng mga problema. Magkaiba kayo ng pag-iisip ng mga anak kaya may hindi pagkakasundo. Huwag ipilit ang gusto, palipasin na lang muna ito at maayos din ang lahat. Lucky numbers: 16, 17, 29 at 33.

UNGGOY. Isinilang noong 1920/32/44/56/68/80/92/04
May mga mainitang pagtatalo sa pamilya, na ikaiirita mo ng husto. Malaki ang tsansang tumibay pa ang pagsasama sa karelasyon. Pero huwag masyadong maging excited na mapapabuti ang materyal na kalagayan kapag nag-asawa ka na. Huwag magpadala sa pangarap; kung gusto mong matupad ito, kailangang harapin mo ang lahat ng pagsubok at gawin ang nararapat. Lucky numbers: 16, 22, 39 at 43.

TANDANG. Isinilang noong 1921/33/45/57/69/81/93/05
May mga positibong pangyayari sa trabaho at pribadong buhay. Makukuha mo ang lahat ng kailangan mong suporta at proteksyon, at ang gagampanan mong tungkulin ay magiging matagumpay. Ngayon ay mas bibigyan mo ng pansin ang pagkakaroon ng ispiritwal na unawaan. Kung gusto mong bawasan o iwasan ang paninigarilyo at pag-inom ng alak, magagawa mo ito ngayon. Kakayanin mo rin na mabawasan ang timbang sa dahil sa pagdi-diyeta. Lucky numbers: 5, 18, 25 at 38.

Mideast veteran is new Phl deputy congen in HK

DCG Usudan looks forward to serving in HK for 6 years

by Vir B. Lumicao
 

An old Philippine hand in the Middle East, Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, has been named as the country’s new deputy consul general in Hong Kong.

The 51-year-old Usudan arrived in the city on Oct 17 and reported for work at the Consulate the following day. She has taken over from Consul Roderico Atienza, who is due to end his tour of duty in January.

“I am happy to be in Hong Kong, First World siya in Asia. I look forward to spending six years in Hong Kong,” DCG Usudan said.

The new deputy head at the Consulate told the SUN in an interview that she is a Bicolana who became a Muslim years after marrying her Maranaw husband, Yusuf Usudan, who also worked at the Department of Foreign Affairs but is now retired.

 

DCG Usudan said she is confident the experience she acquired in her many years in the Middle East will help her serve the Consulate well.

Consul Atienza has welcomed DCG Germi’s arrival, saying “that means we’ve expanded the officer compliment in Hong Kong.”

DCG Usudan has served with the DFA for the past 30 years. Before coming here, she was the director of the DFA’s Office of Middle East and African Affairs with focus on the Gulf States.

Her last Middle East posting was a four-year stint in the Saudi commercial capital Jeddah, where she was moved from the embassy in the capital, Riyadh.

She joined the DFA right after graduating from the University of the Philippines in Diliman with an economics degree in 1988. She took the Foreign Service Officers’ Exam in 1996, while studying law at the University of Santo Tomas. She finished law in 1998 and passed the Bar the next year.

“Ang una kong posting ay Abu Dhabi, tapos na-transfer ako sa Riyadh,” DCG Usudan said.

After her recall to Manila, she was posted in Jakarta. “Para maiba naman, kasi parang nata-typecast na ako sa Middle East, so nag-Jakarta ako.”

But two years later, she was again moved to the Middle East, when a Muslim officer was needed in the Saudi city of Jeddah. She spent the last four years of her stay there.

She said that back in the Home Office, she requested for an Asian posting to be closer to her ailing mother. Sadly, her mom passed away in May, before she could be posted in Hong Kong, her destination of choice.

DCG Usudan noted that there are many Filipinos in Hong Kong who look happier than in other posts she had been to, and the Filipino community seems very active in looking for projects that will help the workers.

She said she will be joined in Hong Kong by her two children, Ameerah, 15, who is in grade 9; and Amiruddin, 13, in grade 7, when their classes end in March next year.

  

  

Filipina dies in Taipo traffic mishap

By The SUN

The car that hit the victim and a nearby traffic light post.
(Photo by Joan Chan) 

A Filipina domestic worker who was hit by a private car in Taipo on Sunday night, Oct 28, has reportedly died from her injuries at about 7am the next day.

A police spokeswoman confirmed her death, and said they are still investigating the accident.

The victim, identified in reports as a 55-year-old Filipina domestic worker, has been named by some of her friends on Facebook as Tess Hernandez, from Mindoro island.

Officials at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office say her family has already been informed.

The police said the accident happened at about 11pm Sunday night, when the car driven by a 38-year-old local man named Fung was traveling along Ting Kok Road towards Tai Mei Tuk.

The woman was reportedly knocked down by the car as it approached Shuen Wan Lei Uk.

Paramedics surround the victim before she was taken to hospital
(Photo by Joan Chan)

The spokeswoman said the victim sustained multiple injuries and was rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin in unconscious state. She was certified dead at 6:56am on Oct 29.


Fung also suffered injuries from the accident but refused to go to the hospital. He later left the scene, the officer said.

He was not arrested and no charge was laid against him.

Officers of the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, New Territories North, are said to be still investigating.

Earlier, local newspaper reports said the car was a white Honda with a ‘P” (driver is on provisional license) plate.

The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, collided with a safety island and a traffic light before hitting the woman,

sending her flying about 10 meters.

Reports about the accident spread after photos taken by a Joan Chan appeared on Facebook, along with a one paragraph report of the accident.

A woman is seen lying in the middle of the road while a car was resting on its side after apparently flipping. A broken traffic light pole is seen a few meters away.

In another photo, traffic officers or medics surrounded the victim while apparently waiting for an ambulance to take her to hospital.

The accident came nearly a year after another Filipina domestic worker from Bohol, Geraldine Betasolo, was also killed after being hit by a van in Taipo.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer to contact the investigating officers at 3661 3818 or 3661 3819. 

  

Fil-Am found guilty of trying to cash fake US$2B check

Orosa will be sentenced at the District Court on Nov 12

By Vir B. Lumicao

 A Filipino-American woman has been convicted in District Court of “using a false instrument” for attempting to deposit a fake US$2 billion cashier’s check in a Hang Seng Bank branch in October last year.

Judge Charles Chan convicted Elena S. Orosa who stood emotionless at the dock on Oct 22, and set the sentencing for Nov 12 pending a background report. Orosa, who is said to hold a degree from a US university, was remanded in custody until then.

Chan rejected the defense case that Orosa, 57, had no intention to cash the check. He maintained that an offense had already been committed even if the check was not cashed.

He also dismissed Orosa’s claim that she did not know the check was fake before she tried to deposit it in the account of a certain Manish, alleged owner of Great Billion Hong Kong Ltd in the Hankow Road, Tsimshatsui branch of Hang Seng on Oct 18, 2017.

Chan said he did not believe that someone who studied at a US university like Orosa would not question why a friend would entrust a check with such a big amount to her.

The prosecution had said earlier that Orosa graduated with a BS Management degree at San Francisco State University. She was born in the Philippines but migrated to the US with her parents at age 5, and had acquired US citizenship.

Giving evidence in court, Orosa said she went to the bank before noon to deposit the check in Manish’s account at the request of her Filipino friend, Randy Songadan. She said Randy had no funds to come to Hong Kong so could not deposit the check personally.

The defense tried to show Orosa had unknowingly allowed herself to be used by other people for the transaction that would have caused the bank a US$2 billion loss had the check not been discovered as a forgery.

Orosa, during cross examination by defense lawyer John Hemmings, admitted that Randy was not the owner of the check. She said Randy mentioned in Whatsup messages about four days earlier that he had assets belonging to former president Ferdinand Marcos and that the US$2 billion was part of those assets.

Randy claimed a friend named Ed Frondoso had contacts in Central Bank who made the check to take money that “the old man” Marcos had kept in Hang Seng, Orosa said.

She also admitted that about four days because going to the bank, she had been in contact on Skype with Manish, who instructed her on where to deposit the check and to give the deposit receipt to Raveen Kumari, managing director of Great Billion in Hong Kong.

Orosa said after presenting the check to a bank staff named Liu, she and a friend, Filipina tourist Veronica Yambao, were told to sit in a waiting room while staff processed the check. They were arrested by police more than half an hour later.

In his ruling, Chan said he did not believe that Orosa did not know the check was fake before she tried to deposit it, adding any adult with a business sense would know it was a forgery.

He also rejected the defense claim of prejudice in how the bank staff at the counter handled the check after Orosa presented it. The judge said the staff was just performing his duty when he called the attention of his superior to the forgery.

HK’s ICM raises US$2 million for the Philippines’ poorest

Sutherland with ICM's beneficiary community in backdrop 

By Daisy CL Mandap

When it comes to raising funds for the Philippines’ poor communities, nothing beats the Hong Kong –based charity group, International Care Ministries. Or to be more precise, its extensive support base from Hong Kong’s elite.

Three guests paid $150,000 each for dinner
hosted by VP Robredo and catered by Fores

At its annual banquet held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre last night, Oct. 24, ICM raised a record-breaking HK$15.9 million (or more than US$2 million) for its various programs in central and southern Philippines.

Among the evening’s highlights was the live auction, where there was frenzied bidding for the dinner for eight with Philippine Vice President and pro-poor advocate Leni Robredo at her home in Quezon City, to be catered by world-famous chef, Margarita Fores.

Just hours after auctioneer Joff van Reenen brought down the gavel for $150,000, ICM’s chief executive officer David Sutherland said in an email that two other bidders offered to pay the same amount if VP Robredo would agree to host them as well.

“We immediately contacted the VP and before 1:30am she agreed to accommodate three ICM dinners at her home for three different auction winners. I am impressed!”

A similar thing happened to the live auction for skiing lessons with the Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel, plus dinner and accommodation for 10 at a luxury ski resort in Niseko, Japan After the gavel went down for $160,000, another bidder made the same offer for the experience, and got an immediate yes.

Van Reenen auctioning off the Mandela lithograph

The third item in the live bidding, a lithograph with an imprint of the left palm of the late South African President and freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, went for $250,000.

Still, the $1 million raised from the live auction was just a fraction of the record haul that ICM made from its 2018 “Stepping Free from Poverty” banquet.

Sutherland said that it was the first time the charity group had breached the US$2 million threshold from its annual fundraiser.

“This US$2m is about 25% of ICM's annual cash funding needs - a great start to our funding year,”he said.

Young guest holds her number paddle to donate $400k, then $40k

Nearly half of the amount, or $6.6 million, came from the night’s jaw-dropping “Moment of Giving” part, when 122 guests raised their number paddles in succession to hand out between $8,000 and $800,000, all in one go.

Many donors gave $80,000 each, as this was matched dollar for dollar by a United States charity, Find Us Faithful, up to a maximum of US$500,000. Sutherland said the counterpart fund was exhausted because of the donors’ generosity.

“Highest ever,” said Sutherland in describing the money raised from guests who gave and expected nothing in return.

Philippine Consul General Tony Morales
and Consul Paul Saret were among the guests 

“Leaves me speechless to see so many different people donating. Thank you. As I mentioned, one of the things that separates the ICM banquet is not a handful of people generating all of the donations - it is truly a democratic effort where a wide range participate.”

Another big draw was the silent auction when a total of $1.7 million was raised from donated items, mostly artworks from Philippines-based donors and other supporters. The items were auctioned off in three lots, in-between the three-course dinner.

ICM, which operates in nine regions and 23 provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, has set a budget of HK77.64 million (Php541 million) for its operations this year and next.

ICM beneficiaries get share of spotlight

Sugar Cane Warriors from Bacolod show their winning moves

No ICM banquet is complete without the presence of young, happy Filipinos who provide the best testimony of how the Hong Kong – based charity transforms lives, and offers hope to the ultra poor.

At this year’s dinner, most poignant was the presence of young Alexis, who just had a successful club hand/foot surgery, with help from ICM’s Medical Mercy Fund. The six-year-old boy helped convince 13 donors to give $40,000 each in exchange for his framed handprints, so others could also benefit from the live-changing surgeries.

According to ICM, eight Filipino children with club foot were treated between 2017 and 2018. It is anticipated that 15 children will need the same kind of help each year. Those with cleft palates are the most numerous, with 61 children treated last year, and up to 200 others expected to need the same kind of treatment each year.

At the banquet, most visible were the three young members of the ICM children’s choir, who emceed the show. Mary Jane, Rizzel and Nica have performed along with the rest of the ICM choir have shared their songs of hope with hundreds of people in the Philippines, Hong Kong and the United States, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Among those who provided entertainment were three teenagers from Bacolod City, who were the runaway winners in the final round of the “Stepping Free” dance contest. Marvin, CJ and Erben who call themselves the “Sugar Cane Warriors,” delighted the audience with their energetic movements and daring acrobatics.

According to the souvenir program, the boys’ families have benefited from ICM’s programs since 2015. Often forced to choose between school and working in the sugar cane fields that surround their homes, they’re said to choose the former, as they know the importance that education plays in their future,

The Bacolod boys won over the spirited performance of the River Dancing Queens from Western Mindanao and Coco Mommas from Southern Mindanao.

ICM, which has an office in Manila, operates in nine bases across the Visayas and Mindanao: Palawan, Panay, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga del Norte, Koronadal, and General Santos. 

Its work extends to 23 provinces through partnerships with 6,000 churches.

Last year, it provided help to its one-millionth family member through its Transform program, and aims to reach the next million by its 30^th anniversary in 2023.

In future, it hopes to extend help to other poor communities across the globe. - - DCLM

Filipina ex-DH charged with jewelry theft, overstaying

A Filipina former domestic worker who has overstayed her visa for nearly 4 years was charged in Eastern court on Oct 8 of stealing three pieces of diamond jewelry three years ago.

Fedelita Sante, 48, appeared before Magistrate Veronica Heung Shuk-han to face charges of theft and overstaying her visa. She was arrested on Oct 5 at the Immigration Department’s General Investigation Service office at Skyline Tower in Kowloon Bay.

The prosecution opposed bail for Sante, who had no fixed address. The magistrate remanded her in custody.

The first charge stated that between Jan 1 and Feb 4, 2015, the defendant allegedly stole a diamond necklace, a diamond pendant, a diamond ring and an iPad Air, all belonging to Melanie Helene Silvie Viquel. 

The theft allegedly took place in Viquel’s flat at Sum Way Mansion, Belcher St., Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island.

Police did not give an estimate of the total value of the items that were allegedly stolen, or of how the offense was committed.

In the second charge, Sante was accused of “breach of condition of stay” for failing to leave Hong Kong after her visitor’s visa lapsed on Dec 11, 2014.

The case was adjourned until Nov 5 at the request of the prosecutor, who said she needed legal advice and to allow Immigration to investigate further the defendant’s overstay.

Appeal Court foils asylum-seeker’s bid to resist deportation

The Court of Appeal has rejected a Filipina asylum-seeker’s bid to take to Hong Kong’s highest court her application for a judicial review of the government’s deportation order against her.

Justices Peter Cheung, Carlye Chu and  Aarif Barma ruled on Sept 28 that Mary Ann D. Minque’s application did not meet their conditions for granting leave to appeal.

Minque sought leave to appeal an earlier dismissal of her application to go to the Court of Final Appeal against Deputy High Court Judge Bruno Chan’s rejection of her initial bid for judicial review.

Minque, who came to Hong Kong as a domestic worker in May 2008, overstayed her visa after her contract was terminated prematurely by her employer on Aug 16, 2012.

She was arrested by the police on Mar 14, 2013, but she applied for asylum at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees about a month later. 

The following year, she filed for non-refoulement, or against being sent back home, citing as reason the alleged threats to her life by her abusive husband and some creditors.

However, she failed to get the Immigration Director and the Torture Claim Appeals Board to grant her application, prompting her to seek leave for a judicial review at the High Court.

In denying Minque’s latest bid, the CA said she failed to comply with orders for a written submission to support her application. The only ground she cited in her Notice of Motion was that could not go back home because her life would not be safe there.

Chu said this was not acceptable as it related only to Minque’s personal circumstances and did not meet involve any question of great, general or public importance.

Cooking on a budget

By Rodelia P. Villar

Cooking need not be stressful, even if you’re on a budget.

This is what Lorelie Bergamos, an active member of Domestic Workers Corner (Its all about Food) tells her fellow members who often ask for suggestions on how they could stretch the budget given them for daily meals.

In her case, this 39-year-old migrant worker from Acop Rosales Pangasinan, who works for a family of four in Whampoa Garden in Hunghom, manages to come up with a complete meal – with soup, meat, fish and vegetables – on a daily budget of $100.

What’s important, she says, is you must love what you’re doing, especially cooking, and always try to learn new things.

“Ang message ko sa mga katulad kong OFW sa HK, lalo na mga baguhan, keep reading and asking lang  sa DWC All About Food, google (recipes) and watch youtube about cooking. Marami silang matutunan mula dito,” she says.

She adds, “mahalin at alagaan ang mga amo, pagsilbihan sila with love, lalo na sa pagluluto, para mas lalo tayong ma-inspire.”

Bergamos says she always tries to serve her employers’ favorite dishes. 

“Ang lagi kong niluluto para kay Sir ay (anything) basta may isda, any luto ng isda, happy na sya. Ang madam ko naman, sushi and all Japanese foods ang favorite nya. Ang mga alaga ko naman, roasted pork, fried pork neck, stir fry talbos ng snowpeas, pork ribs with sweet sauce and Korean foods ang gusto.”

Lorelie says she loves cooking because it is a great way to relieve stress. Learning new recipes and sharing them with others also give her joy and satisfaction.

“Masaya po ako na mai-share ang mga nalalaman ko sa pagluluto lalo na  sa mga baguhan dito sa HK. Nakikita at nababasa ko kasi na iyon lagi ang mga problema nila, kung ano ung mga dapat nila lutuin everyday. Kaya ito na iyong chance para ma-share ko naman po mga natutunan ko sa pagluluto,” she says.

Here are some of those tried-and-tested budget recipes from this happy cook:

Stewed Sea cucumbers and dried mushrooms
Ingredients:
Frozen sea cucumber
Dried mushrooms
Ginger, sliced
Garlic, crushed
Oil for frying
Cornstarch

Seasoning
3 tbsps oyster sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce ground white pepper
 sesame oil
Shaoxing wine

Procedure:
1. Defrost the sea cucumbers.
2. When they’re completely thawed, place in boiling water. Add ginger and a little shaoxing wine. Let boil for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes of boiling, take out sea cucumber, wash in tap water, then let dry.
4. In a frying pan, add a little cooking oil, then sauté garlic.
5. Add the mushrooms, sea cucumber and seasoning and let boil for 15 minutes.
6. Add a bit of cornstarch to thicken the sauce, then mix thoroughly before serving.

Fried pork neck
Ingredients:
2 medium size pork necks
Breading mix
Oil
Chili powder

Procedure:
1. Wash pork neck then pat dry.
2. Marinate pork with the breading mix powder
3. In a frying pan, add oil and wait until it sizzles. Add the pork necks and fry until they turn golden brown.
4. Slice the pork, then sprinkle with chili powder before serving.
This dish goes well with sweet chili sauce as dip.

Fried Fish
Ingredients:
Small fish
Salt or chicken powder
White pepper
Cornstarch
Oil

Procedure:
1. Wash the fish then pat dry.
2. Marinate with salt or chicken powder, white pepper and cornstarch.
3. Heat oil in a frying pan, then add the fish. Fry until both sides turn crispy.
4. Serve hot.

Stir-fry cabbage with bell peppers
Ingredients: 
A small head of cabbage
Bell peppers in three colors
Garlic
Onion
Chicken powder
Fish sauce or patis
A little sugar
XO sauce or chili sauce

Procedure:
1. Wash vegetables, then slice to desired size
2. Saute garlic and onion, then add cabbage.
3. Season with patis, chicken powder, a little sugar and water, until cabbage wilts a bit. Cover for three minutes
4. Add bell peppers, then mix well until the peppers are cooked.
5. Add a bit of XO sauce or chili sauce for added flavor.
6. Mix well and serve.

Stir-fry Chinese lettuce with fried minced fish
Ingredients:
Minced fish (sold for only $5 in wet markets)
Chinese lettuce
Chicken powder
Garlic
A little sugar
Pinch of salt

Procedure:
1. Wash vegetables well.
2. Fry the minced fish until golden brown. Set aside.
3. Saute garlic, then add Chinese lettuce.
4. Add chicken powder, salt, sugar and mix for about three minutes.
5. Put cooked vegetables on a plate and top with the fried minced fish. Serve.

Koponan ng Indonesian, tinalo ang mga Pinoy sa Samoki volleyball tournament

Nilampaso ng Indonesian Team na KSB Brizick, 3-0, ang pambato ng mga Pinoy na Wolf Team sa katatapos na Samoki Womens Volleyball Tournament-Summer League tournament na ginanap sa Victoria Park, Causeway Bay noong ika-30 ng Setyembre.

Ang tunggalian ay para sa kampeonato ng bracket A sa pasinaya. Hinirang na overall most valuable player at best spiker sa bracket A si Anyi ng KSB Brizick.

Hinati sa tatlong bracket and mga koponan - A, B at C - at ang unang makakuha ng 25 puntos sa bawat laban ay siyang panalo.

Sa bracket B, nagwagi ang Ilocos Warrior sa iskor na 3-2 laban sa D’Punisher, at pinarangalan bilang best player is Lola Doliente.

Sa bracket C, panalo ang Stray Cats laban sa Drifters sa  iskor na 3-1, at tinanghal na best player si Aileen Bariaud ng Stray Cats.

Kasalukuyan nang inihahanda ang autumn-winter league ng palaro at lahat ng volleyball teams ay inaanyayahang sumali. Tawagan lang si Marlyn sa numero 61597165 para sa anumang katanungan. – Marites Palma

Ang nagwagi sa Samoki Womens Volleyball Tournament-Summer League tournament Bracket A: KSB Brizick.

Bracket B Champion ~Ilocos Warrior A

Want to help set Tai Chi record?

Do you want to be part of a world record? Here’s your chance.

On Nov. 18, the International Social Service (ISS) Hong Kong Kong will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the “Most Nationalities in a Tai Chi Class”. The record-setting bid will take place from 10am-12noon at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai.

To create the new world record, around 500 participants of 50 nationalities or more will be asked to take part in a beginner-level Tai Chi class. The lesson will be around 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beginners with little or no previous Tai Chi Experience are welcome to join.

The fun event is part of ISSHK’s year-round activities, and embodies its belief in equal opportunities for all regardless of race, nationality and creed.

The special guest at the event is Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary for Administration, Matthew Cheung.

To enroll, check out http://www.isshk.org/60/ .

The deadline is Oct 15.

Tai Chi practitioners practise their skills.

Fun tournament marks FBC’s 7th anniversary

By Daisy CL Mandap

Any event hosted by the Filipino Bowling Club Hong Kong is bound to be fun, and its 7th anniversary celebration on Oct 7 was no exception.

Members came in costumes to compete in the tournament held at the South China Athletic Association building in Causeway Bay where 18 teams took part. The fun continued through the hearty lunch shared by around 100 people, and the awarding of prizes that followed.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales was guest speaker. In his message, he congratulated FBCHK on its anniversary, and lauded the members led by president Jennifer Gafate for organizing bowling tournaments while doing charity work on the side.

“Nagsasaya na kayo, nakakatulong pa kayo,” ConGen Morales said.

Also among the guests were the editors of The SUN-HK who praised FBCHK for gathering
Filipinos from all walks of life in a spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship.

FBCHK counts among its members a number of engineers and other professionals, church leaders and retirees, as well as migrant domestic workers.
In a message she posted after the tournament, Gafate thanked everyone who joined the celebration, and said: “It is not about winning or losing but it’s for establishing a strong rapport and great sportsmanship among us all.”

Dominating the tournament was the Couples for Christ Team, which took home the championship trophy in the Class A division, with a total of 2,451 pinfalls.

Champions in class A: CFC Team.

Its players, Anthony Cruz and Shirley Yung, also took home the trophies for the High Game and High Series categories in the men’s and women’s single divisions, respectively.

In second place was Pin Nutz Crasher, which garnered a total of 1,821 pinfalls; while third was Team Wan with 1,709.

In Class B, the champion was Rugby 7’s with 1,717 pinfalls; second was Hip Hop Hooray with 1,628 and third was Bowl You Over with 1,609.

Class C winner was Wrecking Bowls Team, with 1,438 pinfalls; second was LBC with 1,386; and third was Duterte Alliance HK Team with 1,320.

Topping class D was Choosen Angels with 1,320 pinfalls; Vulnerabowl Team with 1,187 and Bowlabelles with 1,138.

Adjudged winner for Best in Costume was Choosen Angels, whose players showed up and played wearing ghoulish costumes.

D Choosen Angels won for best costume.The other groups that took part in the tournament were Square and Compass Club HK, The Builders (class A and B), The 4 Fighters, The Spare Gals, and Rock and Rollers Team.

Gafate said awards were also handed out to the winners of her group’s monthly tournaments.

FBCHK members have taken part in several international tournaments held in Singapore and Australia, and is slated to host the annual contest in Hong Kong next year.

Guardians Amber HK marks 2nd year

Guardians Amber Hong Kong Chapter celebrated on Oct 7 its second founding anniversary and induction into office of its newly elected officers.

The celebration, held at Neway Karaoke in Wanchai, was attended by about 20 people comprising members and guests of Amber, an all-female chapter of Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. of Hong Kong.

Amber, which has 18 active members, was founded two years ago by Philippine Buffalo baseball player and SCC Divas cricketer Jessie Duque.

The highlight of the event was the oath-taking of Amber’s newly elected officers led by May Ann Joy Tolentino, president; Richel Ayade, vice president; Sherly Samson, secretary; Lorraine Caberra, treasurer; Hera Caraecle, auditor; Alma Moreno, business manager, and Mercelita Buenvenida, PRO.

They were inducted into office by Charlie Gamboa, vice president of the Hong Kong executive council of PGBI HK.

Among the guests were Alex Banang of BSA, supporter Dave Chan, SCC Divas cricket team vice president Jennifer Alumbro, and Vir B. Lumicao of The SUN Hong Kong.

New Amber officers, members and guests in a souvenir pose.

Labatt Jolly returns, sets eye on newly accredited agencies

By Vir B. Lumicao

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre has said he will review the accreditation of more than 20 new local employment agencies, as he resumed work in Hong Kong on Oct. 21.

Labatt Dela Torre retook the top post at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office nearly six months since he was recalled to Manila to face a supposed inquiry about his alleged favoritism in dealing with agencies and other misconduct.

No such inquiry appeared to have taken place, but Dela Torre was unable to return to his desk sooner because he needed to get cleared all over again so he could be sent back to Hong Kong as the Philippines’ top labor official.

On his return, he was received warmly by many leaders of the Filipino community, mostly those who protested an order for his recall in May by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

“It’s good to be back in Hong Kong. A lot of unfinished business and discontinued projects to be resuscitated,” Dela Torre posted on his Facebook page at the end of his first day back at work.

In an interview with The SUN earlier in the day, he said he would check if the agencies given accreditation in his absence passed his framework for “ethical recruitment.”

His yardstick includes requiring agency owners seeking accreditation to undergo a seminar, sign undertakings to comply with legal recruitment guidelines, and agree to third-party assessment.

He also said he will act against Philippine agencies that charge excessive training fees from domestic workers coming to Hong Kong for the first time, or joining new employers.

Another concern was the shortening of work contract processing in POLO, which appeared to have taken its toll on staff.

“I need to meet all the staff kasi sa processing of contracts, mukhang na-shorten nila into one day pero at the expense naman ng empleyado, alas-10 o alas-11 umuuwi,” he said.

He said there is no point to speed up the work in POLO because it still takes the Consulate five days to complete the processing.

In the last three months of his absence, Labor Attache Nida Romulo took over POLO as officer-in-charge.

But after the formal turnover of the post back to him on Oct 22 at the Consulate, Labatt Romulo will head on to Malaysia, where she will also head POLO.

Dela Torre said Bello had given him no special instructions before he returned here.

“Wala naman. It’s just that make sure yung mga controversial cases na baka lumabas sa media, dapat agapan, ireport kaagad sa kanya,” such as sexual offenses against Filipina workers, Dela Torre said.

He said he told Bello that Hong Kong has existing mechanisms to deal with such cases.

Even as he hit the ground running, Dela Torre paused at the end of the day to thank all those who welcomed him back.

In his Facebook page, he said: “The spontaneity and warmth of the welcome of the community were overwhelming, and I was speechless. Faces both familiar and unfamiliar beamed and their smiles of recognition and gratitude lifted my spirit.

“I can only reciprocate by recommitting myself to the advocacies I have dedicated myself to pursue, and have pursued, before I left Hong Kong and went on a long vacation. It's like I never left at all.”

Coins for Bethune participants asked to turn over all cans

Nearly 80 cans distributed to Filipino community organizations that asked to join the annual Coins for Bethune House project have yet to be turned over.

This was according to Edwina Antonio, executive director of the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, who also appealed for all filled-up cans to be submitted no later than Oct 15.

The counting for the donations was supposed to end on Sept. 30, but due to a schedule mix-up, the activity was moved from the KUC Space to the Bethune shelter in Jordan.

This, according to Antonio, could have accounted for some of the donations not being turned over on time.

So far, more than $38,000 in coin donations from 183 groups and individuals has been tallied by volunteers, she said. At least 260 stickered cans have been distributed to various donors, meaning 77 have yet to be turned over.

Despite the big number of missing cans, Antonio reckons it would be hard to equal, much less surpass the $57,000 total collection from last year’s fund campaign.

Her team plans to end the counting so the shelter can work on other upcoming projects, including several benefit shows being held on its behalf by Pintura Circle and other non-profit groups.

Bethune House, which operates two shelters in Kowloon and Hong Kong island, is a charity organization that provides free legal help and accommodation to distressed migrant workers. It survives solely on private donations. - DCLM

Risks faced by FDWs in online business

By Cynthia Tellez

You will notice on Facebook or other social media the engagement of some migrant domestic workers in business ventures. They offer different items and sometimes even with prices and information on how to contact them. We understand the necessity of having extra income to augment the low salary. We also understand how prices have soared because of the high inflation rate in our country so much so that our previous remittance to our family is no longer sufficient. Even in Hong Kong where we spend part of our income, prices of basic commodities are also getting higher.

But there are things that foreign domestic workers must bear in mind to stay away from any untoward incidents that might affect their stay in Hong Kong.

First of all, all foreign workers in Hong Kong who are on employment visa are subject to conditions of stay. The “conditions of stay” provide that foreign workers are only allowed to work with a specific employer or a specific company. But such conditions are more restrictive in the cases of foreign domestic workers who are governed by the “New Conditions of Stay” which took effect in 1987. These restrictions include what is commonly known as the “two-week rule”, which mandates that a migrant worker can remain in Hong Kong for only 14 days upon termination of the employment contract. The visas issued to foreign domestic workers also bear the name of their employers as specified in the employment contract. They are only allowed to work with that employer in the specific address stated in the contract and must live in that same address.

In addition, all workers subjected to conditions of stay can only do the work stated when they applied for a visa or permit to work in Hong Kong. For example, foreign domestic worker can only do domestic work, in the same way that architects or engineers are bound to only do what they applied for at the Immigration Department. You cannot engage in other types of work, otherwise, it will be a violation of your conditions of stay. Prior permission must be sought from the Immigration Department for any work-related changes.

Our compatriots working as domestic workers are thus advised to avoid violating their conditions of stay as in the following examples:
• Doing part-time domestic work outside of the employer’s address. These include the houses/flats of your employer’s relatives or other houses owned by the employer that are not stated in the employment contract;
• Working in business premises, even if it’s owned by your employer;
• Selling phone cards or other items; and,
• All other kinds of work outside of what’s stated in the employment contract filed with the Immigration Department.

Now, let us discuss the internet or online business that many migrant domestic workers are now engaged in.

There are times when we see online advertisements for business opportunities offered by companies. These are very enticing advertisements as they promise you an income in the thousands of dollars in a short period of time. All that the interested parties are supposed to do is to get the items, maybe on consignment basis, and sell or market them to friends and fellow migrants.

Many are lured to apply because it would seem your household duties will not be affected because you could sell the items on social media only during your spare time. The advertisements say all you need to do is to multiply your followers on social media so you gain a captive market. You don’t have to pay for advertising your product because it’s free on social media, especially on Facebook.

Unless there is a complaint against the item or product you sold, you will not encounter problems. All you need to sort out is the manner of payment. Once you get this out of the way, all should be smooth sailing. You’re not out there physically selling items, anyway, so you could not be accused of doing illegal work. At least, that’s what you are made to believe.

But you should remember that social media is open to most people, even if you’re selling in a “closed” or “secret” group because practically anyone who applies as a member is accepted. These are virtual marketplaces so keeping the site secret will defeat the purpose of people joining it for their online businesses.

Here is where your vulnerability lies.  So, you might want to seriously consider the following:
1 For any foreign worker in Hong Kong who is subject to conditions of stay, it is close to impossible to apply for any business permit for it will violate the conditions of stay. Prior consent of the Immigration Department to engage in business outside of the current permit of work is needed. So, in case a business permit is needed before you can operate your online business, it will be difficult to secure one. If it is not needed, then you passed the first step.
2) In case no business permit is needed, you should be very sure that the items or products you are selling are not banned or restricted in Hong Kong, like cosmetic items that are not approved for sale by relevant government agencies;
3) Even if you pass the two above-mentioned matters, there is a third condition that could be the most difficult. Permit or no permit, the Immigration Department is very strict on the matter of workers breaching the very specific and restrictive conditions attached to their visas. Foremost of these is the restriction against engaging in any other kind of work, be it fulltime or part-time, paid or unpaid, other than that what is mentioned in the contract or the application submitted to the Immigration Department.

Migrant domestic workers who do online businesses, once detected by the proper authorities, especially by the Immigration Department, could be prosecuted accordingly. It does not matter if the employer gave permission to the worker to engage in such a business because it is the Immigration Department which has the sole power to determine whether you are in breach of the conditions of stay. If the authorities find that you breached these conditions, they will decide whether to initiate prosecution, or removal proceedings, meaning you will be asked to leave Hong Kong. In addition, you could be banned from returning to Hong Kong for a period of time.

As we said at the beginning, we understand why our migrant workers engage in extra work to earn more money. But you might want to consider the possible outcomes for this contract violation as enumerated above, then weigh if he additional income is worth the risk of being prosecuted or barred from Hong Kong.

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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. 2522 8264.

Sapilitang SSS at insurance, dagdag pahirap sa OFW

Ni Vir B. Lumicao

Nahaharap ang mga OFW sa karagdagang bayarin sa darating na taon kapag pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang bagong panukalang batas ukol sa pagpapatupad ng mandatory coverage ng Social Security System sa lahat ng mga OFW.

Ipinasa noong Okt 8 ng dalawang sangay ng Kongreso ang Senate Bill 1753 o Social Security Act of 2018, o SSA 2018, na nagtatakda ng sapilitang pagsali ng mga OFW sa SSS, ang tagapamahala ng pensiyon ng mga pribadong manggagawa.

Ang bagong batas ay itinulak sa Kongreso ni Emmanuel Dooc, pangulo at punong ehekutibo ng SSS.

Ang pangunahing target ng SSA 2018 ay ang bawat isa sa tinatayang 10 milyong Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa labas ng bansa upang magsilbing mekanismo ng pag-iimpok nila para sa kinabukasan nila, ayon kay Dooc.

Sa kasalukuyang sistema, ang isang OFW na nagbabayad ng PhP1,760 bawat buwan nang di kukulangin sa 10 taon ay magkakaroon ng PhP6,400 na buwanang pensiyon; ika-13 buwang pensiyon; pampalibing na PhP20,000; salary loan na hanggang PhP32,000, at utang sa pabahay na aabot ng PhP2 milyon, sabi pa ni Dooc.

Gayunman, nagngingitngit ang mga OFW sa pagkakapasa sa Kamara ng nasabing panukalang-batas, dahil itinatadhana din nito na itaas ng 1 porsiyento ang dating 11% kontribusyon ng bawat miyembro, tuwing ikalawang taon. Ibig sabihin simula sa 2019 ay tataas ito sa 12%, hanggang umabot ng 15% sa 2025.

Ang masaklap, simula sa 2019, papasanin ng OFW pati ang ambag ng amo sa 12% kontribusyon, kaya magiging PhP2,400 ang babayaran niya ng sapilitan sa SSS buwan-buwan.

Nagbubunyi si Dooc tiyak na tatabo ng labis-labis na pondo ang gobyernong Duterte mula sa sapilitang pagsali ng mga OFW sa SSS, na siyang mangangasiwa sa pagpapalago ng perang ambag nila.

Tinatataya ng Migrante, ang pandaigdigang organisasyon ng mga manggagawang Pilipino sa labas ng bansa, na mula sa PhP4.64 bilyon na boluntaryong ambag ng mga OFWs noong 2016 ay lolobo nang 3,000% patungo sa PhP144 bilyon sa unang taon pa lang ng pagpapatupad ng batas na ito.

Limpak-limpak na pera ng OFW iyan na iglap na makakamal ng gobyerno. Wala sanang problema kung may sapat na garantiya ang gobyerno na ang perang sapilitang pipigain sa mga mangggagawa ay iingatan at palalaguin ng SSS.

May dahilang makaaamoy ng baho ang  marami sa bagong maniubrang ito ng pamahalaan dahil noong panunungkulan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, nabunyag ang tangkang pagwaldas ng administrasyon sa perang nakalaan para sa pensiyon ng mga manggagawa.

Ang napipintong paniningil sa kanila ng sapilitang SSS contribution ay iba pa sa mandatory insurance na US$144 sa sisingilin naman ng Philippine Overseas Employment Administration sa mga OFW tuwing pipirma sila ng kontrata tuwing ikalawang taon.

Sa kabila ng mga dagdag-singil na ito, hindi nakikitaan ng madla ng aktibong kampanya ang gobyerno laban sa mga gahamang employment agency na patuloy na pumipiga sa mga manggagawang papunta sa ibang bansa.

Talamak ang paniningil ng mga ahensiya ng illegal na placement fee na itinatago nila sa iba’t ibang bayarin, tulad ng sapilitang pagti-training ng mga manggagawang malaon nang namamasukan at natututo ng mahahalagang kaalaman sa ibang bansa.

Garapalan na ang pagpiga ng gobyerno sa dugo ng mga OFW na dapat lang ilantad at tutulan ng mga manggagawa at ng kanilang mga pamilyang tuwirang naaapektuhan ng mga mapagsamantalang patakaran.