Emry’s probers seek more video evidence

By The SUN

Ester Ylagan in better times.

Police investigating the alleged job scam of hundreds of Filipinos by recruiter Ester Ylagan and her companies Emry’s Staff Services Agency and Mike’s Secretarial Services are asking for the applicants who documented the transactions on video to step forward.

Labor Attaché Jalilo dela Torre disclosed this as he and Consul Paul Saret of the Consulate’s assistance to nationals section prepare to meet with the police to check on the progress of the probe.

Labatt Dela Torre said the investigators need the names of those who took the video recordings so they can be submitted to the Justice Department as additional evidence.

The footages, at least two of which were shared with The SUN, were taken discreetly by complainants with their cell phones as they made payments to Ylagan at her former office at World Wide Plaza in Central.

The Police Regional Anti-Crime Unit is investigating Ylagan, 66, and suspended barrister Ody Lai Pui-yim, 56, for suspected fraud and money laundering in connection with the alleged scam.

About 200 applicants, mostly Hong Kong-based domestic workers, filed complaints against Ylagan for charging them placement fees of $10,000 for a wide range of non-existent jobs in Britain, and $15,000 for positions in Canada.

About 300 more victims of the apparently recruitment scam have either chosen not to pursue their claims while others have found new jobs overseas or gone home after losing their jobs here.

The complaints led to further investigations into the suspected scam by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Consulate’s ATN sections, and in turn, resulted in the arrest of Ylagan and Lai, who are both out on police bail.

Both suspects have been told to report back to police at regular intervals while the investigation into the case continues.

Many of the complainants have submitted evidence to support their claims to Mission for Migrant Workers director Edwina Antonio who is representing them in court. She is also expected to supply the names of those who took the videos to investigators.

The next hearing of the claims will be held at the District Court sometime next month, following a postponement on Oct 26.

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3 Pinays in rehab hospital after stroke

By Vir B. Lumicao

Two Filipina domestic workers are undergoing rehabilitation in Tung Wah Hospital in Causeway Bay after both suffered a stroke that left one comatose for five days, and the other having half of her brain removed to save her life.

The information came from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration officer Marivic Clarin, who also said that a third Filipina helper stroke victim is recovering in the same hospital.

Clarin told The SUN on Oct 21 that the conditions of the patients are being monitored by doctors at Tung Wah.

The first patient, 29-year-old Ledesma Jugo from Pangasinan, reportedly had neurosurgery at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan to remove a blood clot in her brain.

A Filipino worker’s group said she had been at the hospital’s intensive care unit since Oct. 2.
Clarin said Jugo collapsed at the house of her Indian employer, who then took the worker to the hospital. The Filipina had just renewed her contract, and was reportedly taking case of a child aside from other chores.

When a team from OWWA visited her at the hospital on Saturday, Oct 20, staff there reportedly said the patient had already been transferred to Tung Wah for rehabilitation.

Clarin said Jugo has regained consciousness and can now move after being comatose for five days, but still has difficulty talking. A sister of Jugo had reportedly come to Hong Kong to look after the patient.

The OWWA officer said the stroke might have been triggered by a family problem. The night before she was stricken, Jugo reportedly received news from Pangasinan that upset her.

The patient is married and has a young child, Clarin said.

The second patient, Perla Pasion Lagar, 48, from Isabela, was admitted to Tung Wah on Oct 14 after suffering a stroke. Doctors reportedly told Clarin that the left half of Lagar’s brain had been removed to save the other lobes from being affected by the damaged part.

Clarin said a son of Lagar who is an OFW in Taiwan was at her bedside at Tung Wah. But he will return to Taiwan once his father arrives from Manila, the welfare officer said.

She said Lagar had been working for 20 years with the same employer.

Clarin said the third stroke patient is a 64-year-old domestic worker whom she did not identify. She said the patient was already up and about and recovering.

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Litigants no-show in compensation claim over Filipina who fell from employer's flat

Neither party was in District Court for the hearing

By Vir B. Lumicao

The hearing of a compensation claim by the family of a Filipina who fell to her death in Mid-Levels four years ago faces a further delay as both parties failed to show up in a hearing at the District Court on Nov 9.

Judge Katina Levy adjourned the case for another six months after claimant Virginio Jose or his representative, and defendant Cheung Yeuk Lee, both failed to appear at the hearing.

Jose, common-law husband of deceased domestic helper Ruby Ann Diola, was to have been represented by Mission for Migrants director Edwina Antonio, who filed the claim on his and his son Vivejo’s behalf.

Mission’s general manager Cynthia Abdon-Tellez rushed to the District Court after being informed by this reporter about the hearing, and apologized for the absence of Santoyo, who she said was in Mexico.

Tellez asked if she could take directions from the judge regarding the case, but was told she could not as she was not the representative on record.

“I cannot give directions now because you cannot represent the claimant and, also, because the respondent is not in court,” the judge said.

But Levy told Tellez the claimant should apply for legal aid so a lawyer can be appointed to represent him, and also to find out the present address of the respondent where summonses can be served.

The judge noted that all the notices sent to the last known address of Cheung on Robinson’s Road, Mid-Levels had not been received.  She said the case could not move forward without Cheung getting the notices and appearing in court.

The judge suggested adjourning the hearing for nine months, but Tellez said six months would do. So, Levy adjourned the hearing to Apr 12, 2019.

Diola, then 27, fell to her death from the 32^nd floor flat of Cheung, and her body was found on the podium next to a swimming pool in the morning of Oct 23, 2014. Police classified the case as “death by falling.”

At an earlier hearing, Levy took note that Cheung had been fined $5,000 by a court for failing to take out life insurance for the maid.

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Personnel Wanted

Must be well versed in English; other languages are an added advantage.

Secretary
Experience as Secretary in Investment/Financial Institutes in the past 3-5 years either local or overseas.
Secretarial and Administration experience equipped with Accounting know how would also be an advantage. Salary depends on qualification and experience

Personal Assistant
Experience either with local or overseas Global company in the past 3-5 years with ability to handling Investment/Financial operation independently.
Well gained experience holding junior executive post in international firms and capable in running investment/financial/Administration operation. Salary depends on qualification and experience

To apply:
Email your resume, with your colour photo, to: tonylau@catheyworld.com.

Cathey World Investment LimitedUnit 1919-1920 19/F
Star House
3 Salisbury Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Tel: 2581 2088, 9313 1328

---
Second Interview to be conducted by end of November 2018 if the first interview is successful.

Ang ‘Walled Village’ sa Shatin

Ni Marites Palma

Kakaiba ang mararamdaman kapag nasilayan sa unang pagkakataon ang lugar na ito sa Shatin na may 178 taon nang nakatayo. Ito ang Tsang Tai Uk o Big House of Tsangs, na kilala rin sa pangalang Shan Ha Wai o “Walled Village at the Mountain’s Foot.”

Isa sa mga pasukan sa Tsang Tai Uk 

Kitang kita talaga ang kalumaan ng gusaling ito na naitayo pa noong 1840s ng isang mayamang negosyante ng batong granite na mula sa pamilya Tsang. Bagamat ilang siglo na itong nakatayo ay maayos pa rin ang istraktura. Sa ngayon ay ito na lang ang nakatayong Hakka walled village sa buong Hong Kong.

Hugis parihaba ang istraktura at may tatlong hanay ng kabahayan na nababakuran ng granite at ang bawat poste ay gawa sa isang buong piraso ng troso. May tatlong palapag ang bawat sulok nito na nagsisilbing tore kung saan maaaring magmatyag sa buong paligid. May mga butas sa makapal na pader kung saan inuumang ang mga mahahabang baril noong unang panahon, at malayang pinapapaputok kung may bantang panganib.

Mula sa hilagang bakod ay may tatlong hugis-arkong pasukan, samantalang ang opisyal na lagusan ay nasa gitnang bahagi. Ito ang nagsisilbing daanan papunta sa ancestral hall kung saan ginaganap ang mga pagtitipon at iba’t ibang tradisyunal na seremonyas ng kanilang angkan.

Sa pagsilip sa madilim at makipot na lagusan ay hindi maiiwasang maisip ang kung ilang daan katao na ang pumasok doon, at ngayon ay matagal ng wala dito sa mundong ating ginagalawan. Maari ding sumagi sa isip na may kababalaghan na makita dahil ang mga dingding ng gusali ay naaagnas na sa kalumaan. May mga parte din namang inayos na pero mas marami pa rin yung mga natirang haligi na nilumot na sa pagdaan ng mga taon.

Sa harapan ng unang gusali ay isang mahabang courtyard o lakaran kung saan ibinibilad ng angkan sa araw ang kanilang mga produkto noong unang panahon. Ngayon ay mga labadang pinapatuyo na lang ang makikita dito.

Ang mga kabahayan dito ay pinagdugtong-dugtong sa pamamagitan ng mga maliliit na lagusan at courtyard o pahingahan. Ang mga bisita ay pinapayagang makapasok sa unang courtyard at ancestral hall lang, at hindi sa iba pang mga gusali na patuloy na tinutuluyan ng mga bagong miyembro ng angkan.

Sa bungad at pinakadulo ng unang courtyard ay matatagpuan ang dalawang balon na kinukuhanan ng tubig noong panahon ng pagkubkob, pero sa ngayon ay nagsisilbing alaala na lamang ng bukal na bumuhay sa mga ninuno ng angkan.

Sa tibay ng mga gusali dito ay parang walang anuman na dumadaan ang mga bagyo o delubyo, katulad ng T10 na si Mangkhut noong nakaraang buwan. Inabot man ito ng baha dahil sa umapaw na ilog ng Shing Mun River ay hindi naman natinag man lang. Patuloy pa rin itong nagsisilbing tirahan ng mga pinakabagong henerasyon ng pamilya Tsang.

Ang isa pang nakakatawag-pansin ay ang mga butas na kuwadrado sa mabibigat at malalaking pintuan ng mga bahay, kung saan ipinapasok ang mga pangharang na gawa sa mabibigat na kahoy, bilang paniguro na hindi sila basta-basta papasukin ng mga mananakop o tulisan.

Bukas ang ilang parte ng walled village na ito sa mga bisita, para ipakita kung paaano namuhay ang mga miyembro ng pamilya Tang sa ilang daantaong nakalipas. Kitang-kita kung paano sila namuhay ng sama-sama para protektahan ang mga kalahi laban sa mga masasamang elemento.

Madali lang marating ang walled village. Sumakay lang sa Ma On Shan MTR Line at bumaba sa Che Kung Mui station, bago lumabas sa Exit B. Tahakin ang daan patungo sa Shan Ha Wai village, at pagkatapos ng ilang minutong paglalakad lang ay tatambad na ang sinadyang lugar.

Sa mga mahilig mag selfie at humanap ng bagong lugar na papasyalan, subukang dayuhin ang Shan Ha Wai Village para magkaroon ng kakaibang tanawin sa iyong mga litrato. Malay mo, baka rin pagtingin mo sa iyon mga kuha ay makita mong nakasama mo ang multo ng isa sa mga ninuno ng pamilya Tsang.

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Charity group ICM raises US$2 million for Philippines’ poorest

By Mirella M. Deocadiz

With a point and flourish, professional auctioneer, Joff van Reenen, closed the bidding for a hotly contested item, dinner for 8 with Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo for $150,000, (Php1.02million) at the International Care Ministries’ annual banquet on Oct. 24.

Impressive as the final bid price was, the action did not end there. Hours after the event closed, two losing bidders offered to match the amount for the rare dining privilege, and the VP, a known pro-poor advocate, immediately obliged. Her three dinners, totaling HK$450,000 (Php3.06 million), became one of the top ticket items at the fundraiser.

Auctioneer Joff van Reenen coaxing a guest to bid more for dinner with Vice President Leni Robredo.

But this was just the tip of the iceberg. At the end of its five-hour banquet at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, ICM managed to raise a whopping HK$15.9 million (US$2.1million or Php108.75million.

A jubilant David Sutherland, ICM’s chairman of the board, said in an email the day after that the record amount raised was enough to fund 25% of the NGO’s yearly operation across 23 provinces in Central and Southern Philippines.

David Sutherland, ICM’s chairman of the board, with the contestants in the “Stepping Free” dance contest.

But as in previous years, the largest donations of the evening came during the much-awaited “Moment of Giving.” With van Reenen leading the charge, 112 individuals raised their number paddles in a frenzy for outright donations ranging from HK$8,000 (PHP54,700) all the way up to a lone wolf pledging HK$800,000 (PHP 5.47m).

One young lady drew gasps at her table when she raised her number card for a HK$400,000 (Php2.73 million) donation, then followed it up with another HK$40,000 (Php273,000)

This part of the evening was particularly striking as the donors were not going home with anything tangible. Rather, their pledges were outright donations to ICM’s various programs to help poor communities in Visayas and Mindanao.

Another big moneymaker for the night was the silent auction, which raised a total of HK$1.7 million from donated pieces from individuals, hotels and resorts, and corporations. Altogether, the 115 lots were divided into three groups, one being auctioned over the appetizer, another during the main course, and the last over dessert.

Competition was fierce for some of the items, which had all been displayed at the foyer ahead of the dinner, the better for the guests to appreciate them. Among the highest winning bids were HK47,000 for Ramon G. Orlina’s glass sculpture, “Loveliness of Autumn”; and Justin “Tiny” Nuyda’s “Search Mindscape: It’s A Blue Day” which went for a cool HK$44,000.

Others were sold for relatively smaller, though no less impressive amounts, like Maryrose Gisbert’s “Tindera” which was sold for HK13,500 and Seb Chua’s “Emerald Wave” which went for HK$12,000.

The other Filipino artists who donated pieces sold at the auction included Pete Jimenez, Jaime Gubaton, Gerrico Blanco, Norlie Meimban, Aner Sebastian, Ferdie Cacnio, Hermes Alegre, Fred “Cana” Valencia and Salvador “Buds” Convocar.

Aside from artwork, the lots also included accessories from Arnel Papa, Ann Ong, Marjorie Renner, and Ana Rocha among others; as well as exotic vacation getaways to Portugal, France, Oman, South Africa, and the Philippines.

Also included was a dinner with American pastor Tim Keller at New York’s Jean-Georges’ restaurant which, after 55 bids, went for a cool HK$76,000; as well as tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres show which went for HK$22,000.

While these sums were eye-popping, they didn’t distract from the clear focus of the evening: the impact of ICM’s work in the Philippines.

The young emcees of the night (and members of ICM’s children’s choir), Mary Jane, Nica, and Rizzel were all smiles as they addressed the room and spoke of their deep appreciation for the NGO’s support.

The “Sugar Cane Warriors”, winners of ICM’s dance competition, “Stepping Free”, not only expressed their gratitude, but also decided to give 10% of their winnings from the competition to a savings group for their ICM community.

And finally, Alexis, a six-year-old boy who successfully received hand/foot surgery offered handprints to every donor to ICM’s Medical Mercy Fund which provides medical treatment and support.

Their stories were enough to convince everyone that ICM’s programs had the power to transform lives, and provide hope for the future.

Founded in 1992 by a Hong Kong-based Singaporean interior designer, Sharon Tang, ICM delivers support, training, and resources that allow their participants to progress out of poverty.

The NGO which targets Filipinos living on 50 US cents a day, operates 9 regional bases in Visayas and Mindanao: Palawan, Panay, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga Del Norte, Koronadal, andGeneral Santos.

On its 25th year last year, the NGO reached its one millionth family member through its main Transform program. With continued support, ICM hopes to keep going until no child has to live in ultra poverty.

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